The Help (2010), directed by Tate Taylor is a hilarious and
tear-jerking film based off #1 New York Times best seller by Kathryn Stockett.
It tells the story of the complexities that those from the upper and lower
class women had to deal with back in America in the 1960’s. Where segregation
was still a major issue throughout the country, the Help presents a humorous
and hopeful recount of empowering women who break the barriers of social
acceptance to shed light upon the hardships that coloured people (nannies in
general) had in the 60’s and how the friendships they encounter and stories
they share help them to triumph through all of the negativity and gain hope.
The storyline and cast alone are enough to sell itself,
featuring Emma Stone (Spiderman, Easy A) and Viola Davis (Doubt, Prisoners).
The one thing that gets me on top of it all is the attention to fine detail
though – the set, costumes, colours, framing, lighting and everything else in
this film is just absolutely picture perfect! :) This is honestly one of the
most tear-jerking, laugh-out-loud, pick-me-up movies ever and it always keeps
me going back to pick it up out of our humongous movie pile at home! I’d recommend
for anybody to watch it with a cup of tea on a lazy night (or any other time
for that matter) – it will not disappoint! :)
- C
Throughout my childhood I would constantly watch Studio Ghibli films, it would be a weekend ritual, and still remains one for myself. Within each film imagination and wonder flourishes, with exquisite animation and brilliant soundtracks, the films never get old, and would resonate to me in a different way, every time I watched them. They would be a release and something relaxing and great to watch when I felt uninspired or just feeling down. I began to write up my own studies and connections between the films and their messages in relation to circumstances happening within my life at the time. Since the beginning the one Studio Ghibli film, which for many reasons will always remain my favourite, is Hayao Miyazaki’s, Spirited Away (2001). The film follows the story of a young girl, Chihiro, who is like any young observant girl, anxious, scared and afraid, and when we first meet her she is to face the challenges of moving to a new town and life, a big step for a 10-year-old girl, you can just imagine. Yet a simple wrong turn on the way to there new home, leads Chihiro and her parents into a secluded and silent village. Confused and scared Chihiro soon finds out she has wondered into a strange world, where spirits and witches rule, humans are turned into pigs and a bathhouse sits on a cliff by an ocean, built to serve the spirits and run by an evil, manipulative, greedy and maniacal witch Zeniba and her beguiling henchman Haku.
The film explores the nature of growing up, as well as other underlying messages to do with the environment, the fight between good and evil, greed and the power that words and names have, especially in the quest for freedom. We see Chihiro taken into labour within the bathhouse, stripped of her name, (Chihiro is now Sen), ridiculed and discriminated against for being who she is, a human. That is when we see the sullen and timid girl changes into a strong and determined girl, able to stand up to anything in her way, and fights to prove she is worthy, all to save her parents from being the spirits food. She goes on a great adventure into the unknown world of the spirits, where she gains many friendships and teachings about the world she has entered, as well as heading on a great quest to discovering hidden secrets, to help her find her way out of this world and back to reality. Spirited Away taught me that with courage, loyalty and good judgement, it is easy to grasp what you want in life and to never be afraid to chase after your dreams.
-D
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