Director: Blitz Buzuwale
Starring: Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks
‘Magnificent Musical’
Few books about religion are as unforgettable as “The Color Purple”. Following 1982 publication, Alice Walker’s novel was successful capturing women wearing a color purple. It earned rave reviews for capturing a woman seeking to save herself from 12 years of being a slave. The book captured positive effects of religion on little women. Telling the story of a woman questioning if she should get busy living or get busy dying, the book earned a following. On a personal level, I find the novel relatable. From an early age, I was drawn toward religion with a message. My memories of religion harken back to my Canadian immigration. Truth be told, I was only fifteen years old. A massive life transition, immigration forced me to part ways with companions. As upsetting as Celie’s separations from beloved sisters, moving countries was challenging. It was sad to bid goodbyes to friends bringing tears to eyes. To overcome fences of immigration, I became religious. As a plea for help, religion allowed me to overcome adversity. Seeking to do the right thing, I began habits of praying to cope with immigrating. Mosques became places of worship I could visit to beat hardship. A moonlight in darkness, religion ensured my happiness. By being religiously affiliated, I immigrated. Like “Dear God” letters written by Celie, religion impacted my identity. Years after I immigrated, I’ve wanted to see the book adapted. Despite honoring hidden figures, the book has proven hard to adapt for filmmakers.
Now, Blitz Buzuwale reimagines celebrated novels about women wearing color purple in “The Color Purple”. Inspirational, heartwarming and sweeping, it celebrates legendary novels about African-Americans. Blitz Buzuwale gives acknowledgements towards commemorated books. Boasting breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s an extraordinary adaptation. Although “The Color Purple’s” colorful, it isn’t flawless. Its unevenly paced, featuring unnecessary subplots about homosexuality. Nevertheless, it provides exhilarating entertainment that satisfies fans of the commemorated novel.
Adapting the novel, “The Color Purple” follows African-American women employing religion overcoming marriages that crumble. Fantasia Barrino embodies Celie, a free-spirited woman bonding with sisters she regards highly. However, Celie’s life changes forever after separation from sisters following marriage to the abusive Mr. (Colman Domingo). Experiencing marriage destruction, Celie embraces religion. Facing marriage struggle, Celie employs religion to overcome every obstacle.
Blitz Buzuwale is fascinated with musicals. His award-winning musical “Black is King” offered engaging tributes to Beyonce. With “The Color Purple”, however, Buzuwale crafts adaptations. It’s Buzuwale’s attempt adapting legendary novels about African-American women, but he succeeds. Through spellbinding cinematography, Buzuwale captures an African-American woman’s journey. Evoking Steven Spielberg’s “The Color Purple”, Buzuwale uses natural lighting capturing separations of sisters. For instance, lighting elevates the scene where Celie is separated from sisters amidst rainy weather. It reminded me of grief parting ways with friends I appreciated after family immigrated. Natural lighting is tricky. As Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” suggested, natural light elevates movies about racism. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Alongside cinematographer Dan Laustsen, Buzuwale commemorates literature. Buzuwale celebrates a novel about women, manufacturing theatrical viewing.
If religious women’s stories don’t attract attention, however, there’s reasons to see “The Color Purple”. One area where the film improves upon previous adaptations is musical sequences. Accompanied by production-designer Paul D. Austenberry, Buzuwale stages marvelous musical sequences using churches. For instance, churches elevate the “Mysterious Ways” sequence. During this joyous sequence, Celie forms precious bonds with communities singing about how God works in ways that are mysterious. One admires set-design showcasing Celie’s religion recalling Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave”. Like Solomon Northup’s funeral melodies that give him strength to overcome slavery, Celie’s religious songs inspire her to overcome adversity. It sparked heartwarming memories of my bond with religion allowing me to overcome immigration adversity. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Evoking Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women”, it demonstrates bonds between little women. Through phenomenal production, Buzuwale celebrates religion.
Another extraordinary aspect of “The Color Purple” is storytelling. Buzuwale’s screenwriting strength is capturing impact of religion on women by symbolism. In Hollywood, movies rarely address impact of religion on African-American women’s success. As case in exemplar: Tate Taylor’s “The Help”‘ depicted African-American housemaids as helpless discrimination victims rarely embracing religion. Thankfully, though, “The Color Purple” avoids pitfalls. Whereas Steven Spielberg’s film ignored the impact of religion on Celie’s identity, Buzuwale addresses it directly. Drawing inspiration from Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption”, Buzuwale uses symbolism capturing the positive impact of religion on women. Like bibles guiding Andy Dufresne escaping incarceration, the color purple guides Celie towards satisfaction. It reminded me of how mosques were a sacred place of worship for my religion relationship. Symbolism is complicated. As Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” suggested symbolism elevates westerns. Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” demonstrated symbolism elevates survival dramas. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Through an extraordinary screenplay, Buzuwale celebrates African-Americans today.
One admires astonishing performances.
Fantasia Barrino delivers one of her best career performances as Celie. Barrino achieved appreciation as a famous African-American musician. It’s challenging embodying a legendary character in literary history, but Barrino succeeds. Evoking Viola Davis in Denzel Washington’s “Fences”, Barrino embodies a strong African-American woman overcoming fences of marriage destruction. With riveting expressions, she captures angst, courage and resilience of an African-American woman. Not only does Barrino embody the feminist hero but she emerges a musical maestro. It’s a phenomenal performance.
The supporting cast is captivating, sharing colorful chemistry. Taraji P. Henson is terrific, bringing strong acknowledgements to a charismatic musician whose melodies introduce Celie towards her sexuality. Danielle Brooks is brilliant, capturing determination of a woman fighting discrimination. Last, Colmon Domingo deserves acknowledgements. As Mr., he’s unforgettable.
Finally, “The Color Purple” will earn appreciation of viewers for honoring the lives of hidden figures. Evoking Theodore Melfi’s “Hidden Figures”, the film celebrates African-American figures. It tackles universal themes including ambition, domestic abuse and racism. Viewers aren’t required to identify with African-Americans to appreciate it. It delivers a universal message resonating with everyone following religion at an early age. Therefore, everyone will appreciate “The Color Purple”.
Despite its powerful message, however, “The Color Purple” doesn’t honor a book leaping off the page. Buzuwale’s decisions integrating subplots about homosexuality is bold but doesn’t succeed. Therefore, scenes focusing on Celie’s romance with Shug Avery aren’t as engaging as her religious journey. For example, a musical sequence showing lesbian romance is unnecessary. Whereas LGBTQ subplots enhanced Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight”, it clashes with this movie. By placing emphasis on Celie’s sexuality, the film doesn’t entirely honor the book’s legacy. Homosexuality is never discussed the book, so it feels out-of-place in the movie. Adaptations are successful when staying faithful to source material, and thus “The Color Purple” falters.
Nevertheless, fans of the iconic book will appreciate “The Color Purple” and so will moviegoers giving acknowledgements to religion. An astonishing adaptation, it celebrates a legendary novel about impact of religion on little women. Nearly 40 years after publication of timeless literature about African-American women seeking acknowledgements wearing colors that shimmer, it could lead people to treasure religions shaping their institutionalization lives forever.
A rousing tribute to a novel about women debating if they should get busy living or get busy dying, it’s a riveting reminder of the strong roles religion played in a book that achieved a fan following.
Like the brave Solomon Northup’s 12 years of being a slave, it’s a powerful reminder of a book achieving rave reviews for depicting women using religion to escape marriages with men that misbehave.
If movies can celebrate the legacies of legendary novels about women wearing color purples shining brightly, hopefully it incites people to treasure religion that had a positive impact in shaping their personalities.
As beautiful as Celie’s color purple dresses which sparkle, it has inspired me to celebrate a classic novel reminding me of an indispensable role religion played throughout my life without which immigration journeys would have been unattainable.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 