“The Help” (2012) – Octavia Spencer’s Powerful Period Piece About Racial Segregation

Writer/Director: Tate Taylor

Starring: Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard and Viola Davis

‘A Captivating Classic’

Few actresses in Hollywood are as celebrated as Jessica Chastain. Ever since her rise toward stardom during the 1990’s, Chastain has been a renowned icon in Hollywood. Whether it’s the tales of helpful housekeepers, compassionate astronomers or terrorists in danger, Chastain has portrayed many unforgettable characters. Arguably, Chastain’s greatest strength as an actress has always been her likability. Through her abilities to portray strong characters that are compelling, Chastain has created a legacy that’s lasting. She has often been one of those rare actresses with the ability to create strong characters by powerful presence. Unlike most actresses in Hollywood, she has scarcely been afraid of taking risks playing characters which are misunderstood. Throughout an illustrious career, Chastain has played many memorable characters with commemorated personalities that have proven to be enduring.

I’m a big fan of Chastain and admire all the films she has made throughout her career. However, “The Help” is my favourite. Ever since its release in 2012, Jessica Chastain’s movie has stood the test of time as a literary classic. It isn’t easy to adapt a beloved book about housekeepers on the big-screen but Chastain succeeded tremendously. Packed with phenomenal production-design, sharp storytelling and engaging acting, it is one of the best literary adaptations ever made. At a centre of it all is an exceptional performance by Jessica Chastain, who embodies a woman whose attitude towards life changes when she hires helpful housekeepers. Ultimately, what makes “The Help” a masterpiece is its great message. The film delivers a strong message about the roles housekeepers play in lives of women which would resonate with everyone. A heartwarming adaptation of a heartfelt book about helpful housekeepers, there are many reasons why “The Help” is a movie which is worth seeing.

Based on the beloved book, “The Help” tells a story about a woman penning stories shining a light on housekeepers. Emma Stone portrays Skeeter, a compassionate white woman living amid the era of segregation. Skeeter grows to care deeply about the struggles experienced by African-American housemaids that live in her community. Skeeters life totally changes when she pens a book about housemaids in her community. Working in close collaboration with black housemaid Aibileen Clark, Skeeter endeavours to change the attitudes towards African American communities. Faced with a dilemma, Chastain questions whether she will ever be able to resolve an issue of segregation during the sexist era.

Tate Taylor is a newcomer towards the stories of racial segregation. Before he had directed “The HelpTaylor was famous for creating historical dramas. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the heartbreaking painful hardships faced by black housekeepers in the segregation era but he succeeds. Tate Taylor effectively uses montages to capture the bond between a caring writer and African-American women during a time of segregation. Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes. For instance, the montages elevate the writing scene. During this unforgettable scene, Skeeter works with black housemaids in her community to shine a light on their shocking story. One appreciates montages capturing lives of African-American housekeepers facing tension. Montages aren’t easy techniques to employ in movies. As Ridley Scott’s “Alien” suggested clearly, montages elevate movies about frightening aliens in the reaches of space. Nevertheless, it worked extremely in this movie. Through phenomenal production-design, Taylor captures romantic relationships that shine.

Another admirable aspect of “The Help” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, you won’t see a movie about housekeepers which is as impressive. Taylor effectively uses flashbacks to capture lives of housekeepers facing a journey paved with adversities. For instance, the non-linear storytelling enhances the crowd scene. During this heartwarming scene, Skeeter develops bonds with coloured housekeepers embarking on a mission to find justice following painful atmosphere of resentment . One admired the strong personalities women taking to take care of her women in a doomed affair. Through an engaging visual plate, Taylor captures black maids experiencing dilemmas which prove to be frightening. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Thomas Newman’s music is key to the movie’s success. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing hardships of women in a doomed affair. Through stunning production-design, Taylor celebrates a commemorated book about housekeepers that shine.

Storytelling is one of the key reasons why “The Help” is a captivating classic which proves to be compelling. Taylor’s screenwriting strength is capturing painful hardships faced by black housemaids experiencing tension through the use of silence. It isn’t easy to adapt a complex book about housekeepers during segregation era, but he succeeded. Through storytelling, Taylor captures grim hardships experienced by housemaids struggling to manage households during an era of segregation. Throughout the movie, Taylor expertly uses scenes of silence to convey a woman’s experience. For instance, the sequences of silence elevate the farewell scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Clark is forced to bid farewell towards the daughter of her employer after she is fired abruptly. It’s hard to not appreciate sequences of silence capturing a housekeeper’s experience. Silence is a complicated technique to use in movies. As demonstrated by Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption”, sequences of silence elevate movies about prison. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through an engaging screenplay, Taylor captures commemorated African-American women in the segregation era facing a painful price to pay.

One admires astonishing performances.

Jessica Chastain delivers one of her greatest performances as Celia Foote. Chastain gained appreciation for playing women investigating terrorist attacks causing pain. With “The Help”, however, she took on her most sensitive role. It isn’t easy to embody the personality of a white woman seeking to take care for housekeepers during the segregation era but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures the angst, desperation and reckless nature of a white woman that treats housekeepers with compassion. It’s one of the best performances ever given by one of the most talented stars in Hollywood today.

The supporting cast is spectacular and also a perky of appreciation. Emma Stone is exceptional, bringing emotions to an author that feels strongly about equal treatment of housemaids she wants to be left alone. Bryce Dallas Howard is brilliant, bringing an air of tension to the movie as a wealthy woman that doesn’t care about treating housemaids with affection. Lastly, Viola Davis is extraordinary. As an African-American housemaid that survived turmoil, she brings heartbreaking emotions towards the movie.

Finally, “The Help” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing housemaids that provided help during an era of racial segregation. Unlike most movies set during the era of segregation, it tackles universal themes that would resonate with everyone. The film discusses universal themes including identity, marriage and racism which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of the beloved book to appreciate the movie. Therefore, “The Help” is one of those rare book adaptations everyone would adore.

Fans of Jessica Chastain will definitely appreciate “The Help” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A mesmerizing adaptation of a beloved book about racism, it celebrates the legacy of an actress that has achieved great stardom.

Nearly 15 years following the publication of a groundbreaking book about white women seeking to write stories about African-American housekeepers facing barriers that are terrifying, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actress that has gained a huge fan following earning worldwide recognition for her abilities to portray compelling characters whose extraordinary movies are definitely worth celebrating.

5/5 stars