I first saw The Color Purple when it first came out in 1985. I was four years old going on five. The Color Purple was, for me, a foundational experience that grounded me and exposed me in ways which allowed for my own personal growth. I saw my very first homosexual kiss in this film. That kiss between Celieve and Shug was explosive and purely radical as at the age of four I found the scene beautiful and touching and I looked up to the characters in this film as people worthy of my greatest esteem. With the film version of The Color Purple, Steven Spielberg made a brilliant and immaculate translation of Alice Walker's novel to the major motion picture screen, one that stands on its own as a masterpiece and brings forth its own wisdom, beauty, and truth.

Whoopi Goldberg,Margaret Avery, and Oprah Winfrey all richly embody their respective characters-- Celie, Shug, and Ms. Sophia. These three characters are the spirit of the film and personify the beauty and core of our humanity. Under the guide of Spielberg's direction, The Color Purple weaves together the life narrative of a young Black woman trapped in her Black, southern, rural existence during the first decades of the Twentieth Century.

The story of Celie, the main character is a troubling look at the realities of Black women of that time period caught in the web of male domination and the restricting mores and values of a fledgling Black middle class. Abused by the man she knows as her father, Celie is married off at an early age to a widowed farmer known as Mr. who, caught in the web of his own realities,is searching for someone to take care of his children and run his household. Celie becomes a prisoner in the life she is given, is separated from all that she loves (primarily her sister, Nettie), and is not allowed to develop or express her own humanity.

Shug Avery, sharp, quick-witted, electric,possesses the very essence of life at her core. A blues singer with moxie and the makings of a hellcat, Shug takes of the world what she pleases and embraces the ideals of beauty, adoration, and freedom. The souls of Celie and Shug connect as they come into each others lives to witness and fullfill each other's destiny.

Ms. Sophia is an austere and majestic character, embodying the boldness and fierce integrity that we should all possess.

These characters come into play within the story as Celie, Mr.'s wife and virtual prisoner befriends Shug, Mr.'s mistress. Ms. Sophia is Mr.'s daughter-in-law who will use her fists to preserve her dignity and humanity.

The story unfolds primarily at the farmhouse that belongs to Mr.(Albert) and that is the home of Celie and the temporary home and resting place of Shug. Several subnarratives are at work in this film as we see the story of Celieve unfold and watch her grow and take hold of her humanity, a process that coincides with her blossoming and budding friendship with Shug Avery.

The tale of Harpo and Sophia, Mr.'s son and daughter-in-law,is a dark and stormy tale of woe as Harpo tries to impose his masculine authority on Sophia and Sophia proceeds to beat him senseless. After the scourge of trial and tribulation, in which Sophia undergoes the worst assaults on her humanity, Harpo and Sophia emerge as two fully developed individuals with appreciation and respect for one another.

Mr. or Albert undergoes his own transformation in the film, learning to embrace his humanity and learning to live in peacead harmony with the world around him.

These tales unfold as we watch Celie come into herself and witness her world coming together with diginty, justice, and peace.

There are several supporting characters who each stand out and bring an added dimension to the film. There is Mr.'s father,known as "Paw," the light, bright mulatto played by Adolph Caesar who always complains about Albert wasting his money and constantly interjects with his unwarranted, unprogressive, and unhelpful commentary. There is also Squeaks, or Mary Agness, played by Rae Dawn Chong, who is at one point Harpo's girlfriend and who eventually goes off to attain a singing career.

This film has some hilarious scenes in it. The scene with Celie and the drinking glass for Mr.'s father is absolutely funny. Also, the fight scene that occurs between Ms. Sophia and squeaks is one of the most thrilling hilarious moments ever to make it to the screen. The church scene with Shug, her father, and the throngs of people in the congregation is utterly moving and one of the most touching in the film. The final scene of the film is one of the greatest scenes ever to make it to film and is a true tearjerker.

All thanks is owed to Alice Walker who is perhaps the most gifted writer of our time. This film is a blessing to the entire world from everyone who was involved in making it. This film is an enduring classic that will be appreciated for time immemorium.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4