Giving thanks to The Help

Last week I was finally able to go and see the movie The Help.  I wish I had read the book before the movie, but I always do things backwards.  It's on my to-do list.  But I can say that I loved this movie!

For those who are unfamiliar with the story behind The Help, it's based off of a book by Kathryn Stockett.  The story takes place in the early 1960's in Mississippi, and follows the lives of African American maids and the white families they work for.  There are tons of great and crazy characters with the main characters being Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter.  Aibileen and Minny are both maids who risk just about everything to help Skeeter, a young white woman and aspiring writer, write a book from the maids point of view.  By helping Skeeter Aibileen and Minny have to break all the rules and out of it come some hilarious, eye opening, and heart breaking stories.

My favorite character was Minny, she was just plain crazy, she spoke her mind, and loved to cook!  I really would not be surprised if this movie wins several awards next year.  There's some amazing talent in this movie including Viola Davis (Aibileen), Allison Janney (Charlotte), Bryce Dallas Howard (Hilly Holbrook), Octavia Spencer (Minny), Sissy Spacek (Missus Walters), and the ever so great Cicely Tyson (Constantine).  The shocker for me was Emma Stone (Skeeter).  I've only ever seen her in crazy comedies like Zombieland, Easy A, and The House Bunny.  But she was great, she was still able to tie in her comedic chops but it was nice to see her in this more serious role.

I'm an "old soul" at times, and maybe that is why I love time piece movies so much.  But this one hit home is another way.  I began to think, if my husband and I were together back in that time and lived in the south we I might have been "accidentally" beaten to death, and something just as bad may have happened to him.  Why's that you say?  Because I married a white man, and in that time is was basically forbidden.  That is one reason I am thankful to live in the time that we do, I was able to marry the person I love regardless of the color of his skin.  I know there are still people who don't agree, but it's nice to know that I don't have to live in fear to be happy.

For me this movie also brought up many other thoughts about my family and my roots, but I'll be saving those thoughts for another post later this week.

If you haven't seen The Help yet I suggest you go see it, and if you haven't read the book check it out!  I know I haven't read it yet, but I will be soon...we can read it together!

Have you seen the movie or read the book?  What did you think?  Let me know, I love comments!

Until next time...