Today’s motion picture environment is much different than it was just a few years ago. Even if the theater management pulls a movie from the venue due to lack of attendance. Now, you can still see the films via streaming, cable, or direct purchase without waiting months or years. You can see them without going to a store to buy the DVD or ordering them from Netflix, which no longer does mailings. So you have no excuse not to see a particular film even if it is not in theaters.
Recently, my wife and I went to see The Color Purple and The Book of Clarence. I urge you to see both of these films while you can in theaters or when they become available via streaming services or direct purchase.
The Color Purple is a reimagining of the book, the 1985 original film of the same name, and the award-winning 2005 Broadway musical production also called The Color Purple. While the 2023 film version encompasses aspects of all of them, the book, the original film, and Broadway adaptations, it is not a remake or reboot of any of them. It is a unique project all its own.
The new film is different in that the scenery and setting are not the same even though the action still takes place in the South during the 1920’s. This time, the action is near the ocean, and we get to see more of Shug Avery’s lavish lifestyle in Memphis, Tennessee, as she helps Celie find and reinvent herself. More importantly, in my opinion, the storyline arc of the characters is more developed, and the criticisms of the book and movie about the depiction of the men offer a resolution without altering the trauma of the backstory. The backstory remains the same. There is brutality and abuse by Celie’s stepfather, but the character of Mister shows gradual transformation and eventual redemption in this version.
The scenery, the costumes, and the interplay among the characters are powerfully well done, the songs have positive messages, and the choreography reflects the Black experience and culture. The direction and actors are very, very good, and their performances help differentiate this film from the original and the stage versions–allowing it to stand on its own merit.
I recommend seeing the film because at its core it is extremely entertaining, and it has a powerful message of resilience, forgiveness, redemption, and empowerment.
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