arts & entertainment
Segregation Era Saga Explores Racism in Socialite-Maid Relationships
K
athryn Stockett made an
auspicious debut in 2009
with the publication of
“The Help,” a poignant period
piece examining the unquestioned
relationships of entitled, white
socialites and their deferential
black maids in Mississippi.
Although the story is set in the
author’s hometown of Jackson in
the early 60s, her best-selling
novel is more fictional than auto-
biographical in nature.
The screen adaptation unfolds
from the point of view
of Aibileen Clark (Viola
Davis), a long-suffering
nanny left bone-weary
by a life spent “lookin’
after white babies.”
Born in 1911, she is cur-
rently raising little Mae
Mobley Leefolt (Emma
and Eleanor Henry), a
recent addition to a
prominent Southern family.
As narrator, Aibileen is able to
admit to the audience the exis-
tence of a “bitter seed” planted
M ovIE
r EvIEWS
by Kam
Williams
deep inside of her soul since the
recent death of her only son. Still,
she is not one to risk her job by
Truth and reconciliation
belatedly achieved, like
a dream deferred
allowing her face to reveal even a
trace of that resentment in the
presence of her employers.
Instead, the grammatically-chal-
lenged domestic dutifully nourish-
es the impres-
sionable toddler
in her care by
Excellent (4 stars)
regularly reciting
Rated PG-13 for mature themes and
the same spiritual
ethnic slurs.
mantra
she’s
Running time: 111 Minutes
shared with all 17
other
children
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
entrusted to her
over the years,
namely, “You is
kind; you is
smart; you is
important.”
By contrast,
Aibileen’s rela-
tively-mercuri-
al best friend,
M i n n y
( O c t a v i a
Spencer), is not
nearly as stoic,
which explains
why she fre-
quently finds
herself fired for
insubordina-
tion. After all,
the
strictly-
en f o r c ed
housekeeper
code of con-
duct calling for
no spanking,
touching or sassing white folks,
and especially no using their bath-
rooms tends to test her patience.
Passive-aggressive Minny is
lucky even to be alive after her lat-
est outburst which led to her being
dismissed by Hilly Holbrook
(Bryce Dallas Howard), an insuf-
ferable shrew who only got what
she deserved. Minny next lands a
position with Celia Foote (Jessica
Chastain), a newcomer ostracized
by other well-to-do ladies because
of her white trash roots.
The plot thickens, upon the
arrival back in town of cotton
plantation heiress Skeeter Phelan
(Emma Stone). Having spent time
away from the racist region, the
aspiring journalist now finds her-
self offended by a way of life
everyone else around her seems to
take for granted.
Feeling for the plight of the
long-suffering black servants who
had raised her and her friends so
lovingly despite the discrimina-
tion, Skeeter decides to write a
book recounting what life in
Jackson is like from their perspec-
tive. So, starting with Aibileen and
Minny, she starts approaching sis-
ters to cooperate with the project,
which is no mean feat, given that
this is Mississippi at a time when
it was often fatal to challenge the
status quo.
Truth and reconciliation belated-
ly achieved, like a dream deferred.
august 10, 2011 The Portland Skanner page 5