The Color Purple is a powerful drama and musical that has fantastic visuals and peformances! The film of course is based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She is the executive producer for the new movie. This was adapted by Steven Spielberg for his 1985 film. Spielberg also produced the current movie with Amblin Entertainment. Oprah Winfrey starred as Sofia in the movie and is the producer of the current film with OW Films. In 2005, The Color Purple made its way to Broadway produced by Scott Sanders who also produced the latest movie. Quincy Jones was also the music producer of the 1985 film and musical also returning for 2023 movie. So this film has deep roots in the book, earlier film, and musical.
The film is directed by Blitz Bazawule who wrote and directed his dramatic film, The Burial of Kojo (2018). It is written by Marcus Gardley who was the writer of the dramatic series, The Chi. The screenplay is based on the book of the musical by Marsha Norman. It begins with a banjo playing. There is an impressive shot by cinematographer Dan Laustsen as we see the player on his horse underneath tree branches and it switches to two young girls in white dresses on a tree branch. They are playing pattycake as we see that it is the Georgia Coast, 1909. The girls are Young Celie (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi), the actresses first role, she was previously a writer for Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, and also Young Nettie (Halle Bailey), a dramatic part for Bailey who also starred in the title role of The Little Mermaid (2023). Young Nettie plays a role through most of the film.
It starts immediately as a musical with Nettie singing to her sister, “Huckleberry Pie” from the musical, who soon joins the song. They head to church for a Sunday morning with the men in dark suits and women in brightly colored dresses. Stunning costumes by Rashad Corey and Francine Jamison-Tanchuck. This shifts into the “Mysterious Ways” song that is a swirl of dancing and song. Celie is pregnant with he second child and her father, Alfonso (Deon Cole) wakes up. Cole starred in the comedy, You People (2023). The church members are signing while the banjo player, Mister (Colman Domingo) watches Nettie. Domingo also starred in the bio drama, Rustin (2023), playing activist, Bayard Rusin. Mister is the name he likes to be addressed as way of showing his importance. At their room, there is a flashback, where Mama (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) shows Celie how to sew, holding the needle, and to “feel it.” Taylor was also in the drama, Origin (2023).
Celie screams about to have her baby. A midwife comes in to help deliver the child whom Celie names Adam. Alfonso takes the baby away. At his general store, Celie sees her first child, Olivia, with another woman. Alfonso charges at Celie and tosses her out. She sees her baby girl through the blinds and sings, “She Be Mine.” There is dry ground as a chain gang brings down sledgehammers and we see Young Celie. This moves to a waterfall with washing women. Incredible visuals. Celie breaks from the dream and goes to her room. Nettie sees at the window, Mister at the house, asking Alfonso to marry her. Nettie tells Celie that he is the “devil” and has three children at home. Nettie tells Celie that she learned about Africa at school. She says that they are royalty. Alfonso doesn’t want Mister to marry Nettie and instead says Celie can marry him.
Celie has to walk behind Mister on his horse on the journey to his house. He calls his kids to greet their new mama. She makes food for the family, Young Harpo (Jamaal Avery Jr.) loves the food and wants more. Mister slaps Celie. Later, taking a bath, Celie notices a photo of Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson) whom Mister idolizes. Henson was stunning as Katherine G. Johnson in the bio drama, Hidden Figures (2016). This shifts to live action, but then we get Mister in bed with Celie. The next day, Nettie is at the door, and admits that “Pa touched me.” She can’t live there anymore and says to Mister that she will work at night and go to school in the day. Mister agrees for Nettie to stay. Nettie takes away her sister from gathering wood and sings, “Life can never break your soul” in the song, “Keep It Movin’”
Five Letters out of Five!
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