Review: ‘The Help’ leaves an impact

Zeenews Bureau

Critically acclaimed ‘The Help’ lives up to its hype from the first frame itself and gives the audience an insight to 1960s American society which was plagued by racism. Based on a book of the same name by Kathryn Stockett, the film deals about the African-American civil rights movement. The story revolves around Eugenia Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone), an aspiring journalist who decides to write a book on black maids and takes the help of two maids Aibileen Clark and Minnie Jackson to understand their point of view. Director Tate Taylor not only manages to recreate the 1960s America for the viewers but also adapts the book in such a way that it becomes a visual extension of the story itself. Performance wise Emma Stone shines as Eugenia, the misfit American journalist who tends to connect more with the housemaids than people of her own community. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are phenomenal as the sassy housemaids. The film’s underlying theme is racism but it also deals with some pertinent issues like feminism and domestic violence. A women centric film, the film works for its sensitive performances and a powerful script. Ratings: Three cheers for this one!