The 2024 Oscars have been so spectacular that the movies have barely taken a few weeks to arrive on streaming platforms. Both Barbie and Oppenheimer and Poor Things can be seen on VOD services —respectively, on HBO Max, SkyShowtime, and Disney Plus—, but they are not the only ones that have a place in the catalogs.
There are many other films nominated for the Oscar and award winners that are coming to streaming services. On Filmin, for example, we can watch Anatomy of a Fall, Past Lives, Robot Dreams, and 20 Days in Mariupol. Now, another surprise from this year’s Oscar film is also standing out: The Color Purple.
Directed by Blitz the Ambassador – yes, that’s his stage name – the film tells the same story as Steven Spielberg’s namesake. However, this new adaptation of Alice Walker’s original novel has turned out to be a breath of fresh air for African American cinema, as it has become a musical and has even earned a nomination for actress Danielle Brooks.
The color purple is a film as intense as it is refreshing to watch at any time. But why is it so worth it? Below, we detail the secrets of this surprising musical that has conquered Hollywood.
A free but unique version of a mythical story
Since its literary origin, The Color Purple has been a story that has resonated with the audience due to its powerful representation of the struggle of an African-American woman, Celie, to find her voice and her place in a world marked by discrimination and systematic oppression.
Undoubtedly, it is difficult to get the adaptation of Steven Spielberg in 1985 out of your head, which was acclaimed for its seriousness and depth, addressing issues such as racism, sexism, and domestic violence with sensitivity and empathy. In addition, the performance of Whoopi Goldberg as Celie was especially praised for its power and authenticity, making her an icon of the fight for equality and justice.
But the new film is based on Alice Walker’s novel and delves into the territory of musicals, adding singing and dancing numbers to a plot that addresses serious and profound issues such as racism, sexism, and domestic violence in 20th century America. In this way, Bazawule’s new version seeks to add a musical dimension to the story, using singing and dancing numbers to explore the emotions and experiences of the characters in a more visceral and exciting way.
While this choice may seem risky, given the seriousness of the topics addressed in the story, the text suggests that the musical numbers are well executed and accompanied by spectacular choreographies that add a visually impressive element to the film.
However, the text raises some important criticisms towards this new version. First, it is pointed out that the musical numbers can take away the sense of tragedy from the original story, sweetening and trivializing it to some extent. And it is that, although adding musical interludes can offer a respite to the viewer, it can also lead to a certain trivialization of the horrors faced by the characters, which can detract from the depth and seriousness of the underlying message of the story.
On the other hand, it is mentioned that the relationship between Celie and Shug Avery seems to have been softened compared to the original version, which partly diminishes the emotional intensity of their connection. Precisely, Spielberg’s version was characterized by its direct and uncompromising approach to the difficult themes addressed in the story, while the new version seems to have opted for a softer and more optimistic representation of them.
But, despite these details, the film features a fascinating cast, highlighting the solid and moving performances of actors such as Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, and Danielle Brooks in the lead roles. The artistic quality added by the antagonist played by Colman Domingo, as well as other standout cast members, is also noteworthy.
