It’s the 4th of July this week, Independence Day. The day we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and freedom from tyranny, unless of course you’re Native American, in which case invading Europeans with their genocide and land-stealing probably seemed pretty darn tyrannical. But that’s another story. In the spirit of celebrating freedom from oppression, I watched The Color Purple this week, a story about Celie, a poor woman in the early 1900s who endured much suffering before finally finding independence and true happiness.
The film opens with a young Celie giving birth to a baby that is promptly taken away from her by her father. We learn that the baby is a product of incest and Celie’s father continues to abuse her, resulting in a second baby that is also taken away. Celie’s only escape is when she is married off to a much older man, Albert, who is widowed with three kids. Albert is abusive and treats Celie no better than a slave. He also kicks out Celie’s sister, Nettie, when she refuses his advances, cutting Celie off from the only family she has left and the only source of happiness in her life.
Celie endures many years with Albert but things change one day when Albert brings home Shug Avery, a sultry jazz singer with whom he’s been having a long-term affair. Ironically, considering the circumstances, Shug not only befriends Celie but also helps her gain confidence and finally stand up to Albert. This has some of the most moving portrayals I have ever seen on screen, including one by a little up-and-comer named Oprah Winfrey, as Sofia, Albert’s daughter-in-law. I admit it, I cried a lot during this one, and lately I only cry during Will Smith movies. But that’s another story.
The Color Purple (1985)
DVD Date of Release: May 2007