The Help (2011)

One of the most inspiring movies of 2011; The Help takes the cake in conveying a story filled with hardships, and the courage a group of women had, to stand tall and tell the truth despite their inborn fear of speaking up to the majority.

The story is set in the town of Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960's at the time of the civil rights movement. A young writer nicknamed "Skeeter" (Emma Stone), is fresh out of college and is looking to work at a New York paper but hasn't got the experience. She inquires for a job at the local paper, and gets one filling in for an advice columnist. To help with the column, Skeeter asks a local maid named Aibileen (Viola Davis) if she can help her write some of the material. But when she stops to think about how suddenly their house maid Constantine left, she decides to offer Aibileen a chance to get her perspective across to the people of America. Aibileen tells Skeeter her life story and the many heartbreaks she has witnessed throughout her life. Another maid named Minny (Octavia Spencer) also gets involved in the covert project the women have thought up. Through their stories, Skeeter gets to know just how strong these woman have been throughout the hardest of times and the things they've had to witness in their otherwise meaningless lives. Skeeter knows that many black women who have worked as maids for a number of white families, in reality raised their children but have received nothing in return other than their usual wages. During this crucial time in their nation, it would only be right to release an account of the mistreatment of these women and how cruelly they have been expended by the many wealthy families of the South. They are the minority, and as soon as they opened their mouths, all hell broke loose around them. Will they decide to carry on their quest for justice despite the possible consequences, or will they give in to the situation and let it be?

Harmoniously supported by the beautifully conducted score, this film makes you laugh and cry at all the right moments. I commend the intensity the production team carried with them to complete this fine piece of work. A fine set of powerful performances that move all those who watch it, even those who may seem like the tough cookies. The set design and costumes transported us into the kind of South many of us never seen and everything from the grimy environment the black population to the quaint parties the rich white folks would hold every now and then. Jessica Chastain delivered a surprisingly refreshing performance in the role of the few women who had no mind for the color of someone's skin, and who herself was an outsider and treated with mockery and contempt by her peers. Her character stayed optimistic nonetheless and wanted to love her enemies. This is what she had in common with the maids of Jackson and it probably was one of the things she and Minny could empathize about when they talked to each other. She represented the beacon of life among the rich, white population of the South and really stood out from the rest because she was kind. Kindness washes all other attributes and baubles a person may possess.Bryce Dallas Howard brings a whole new level of conceitedness and evil to the screen that is sure to make everyone shudder and repulse in their seats. I enjoyed watching her character get what she deserves even if it was in the worst way possible. No special effects or showy production pieces were used in the making of this film, but what makes it so outstanding is the content matter and the sheerness of emotion that each of the main actresses bear while playing their roles to the peak of perfection.

An admirable aspect of this film is instilled in you once you see this film. The black maids not only took an enormous risk in revealing their experiences with the ones surrounding them, but also understood that it was not about them in the end. The future generation and the type of opportunities they would have, was put on their shoulders. If only someone would listen to how badly they were treated as maids and take action to stop the hate. These women lived through so much and it is their determination and dedication that made them heroes. They couldn't have done it unless they realized that they were only a small part of the civil rights movement and it was up to them to secure a future for the next generation of African-Americans. As hard as it may sound, these women knew that at any moment they could be taken away and thrown in jail, but that didn't stop them from pursuing their goal and making a difference in the lives of the people around them who were treated like dirt all those years. With the help and support of Skeeter and Celia (Jessica Chastain's character), these women had a glimmer of hope that there are a handful of people out there who don't judge others by the color of their skin, but by their character and treatment of others. Imagine yourself having to leave your children behind and taking care of someone else's everyday. Never receiving any recognition or thankfulness for how hard they worked, they decided it was time for a change.

Overall, it's an unforgettable film that the production team believed in from beginning to the end. Accomplishing this film will remind people of the history and struggle the Americans had to go through fifty years ago, and hopefully be grateful for. All those who had the guts to be heard are now heroes and this film; illustrating the courage you need to build, to make a difference that is important to you and all those that hold the same beliefs. The message transcends to the current discrimination of homosexuals and the bullying and struggles they live through but sometimes cannot take any longer. You are the change you want to see in others, so stop the loathing and get inspired by this spectacular story.