The Help 2011

Set in Mississippi during the 1960s Skeeter (Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer but turns her friends lives and a Mississippi town upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen (Davis) Skeeters best friends housekeeper is the first to open up to the dismay of her friends in the tightknit black community. Despite Skeeters lifelong friendships hanging in the balance she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories and as it turns out they have a lot to say. Along the way unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly and unwillingly caught up in the changing times.

Review

I took our 12 year old daughter to see this movie and we both loved it. She was not thrilled when I told her we were going to see a film that told a story from the civil rights era but when we left she said she loved it because of the women's courage their humor and the power of their friendships. We had never seen most of the actors which was refreshing and the acting by the entire cast made it easy to get totally involved. I laughed out loud and shed quite a few tears in The Help and will remember it and recommend it to my friends. It was wonderful to see so many scenes in which the actors related to each other so perfectly. Even the vilest characters showed moments of conflict within themselves as they played out poor behavior that had long been inbred in them. I am especially grateful to the team who provided a film that told an engaging story about human relationships with important lessons for my daughter. That is a rare occurrence in today's movies.