Sponsored by Nuffnang
Sensational bestseller, 'The Help', has quite the following - thanks in part to one Ms Oprah Winfrey. Already a fave amongst avid readers, the Big O elevated the book to must-read status the moment she recommended it to her squillions of global viewers in her famed 'book club.'
While the film is not based on a true story, it is most certainly inspired by events of the time. Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (played by Emma Stone, with Oscar talk already buzzing) is a young woman who returns from college determined to be a "writer, or novelist, or both". She does get her wish, but turns her friends' lives upside down - and most of the community - in the process.
Skeeter makes a decision to interview the African American women whose job it is to look after the well-off Southern families - she herself grew up being cared for by 'the help'. Enter Aibileen (played by the sensational Viola Davis), who is Skeeter's friend's housekeeper. She is the first to open up about what happens behind the closed doors of well-to-do families, many of which treat their hired help like, well, crap. And 'crap' ends up becoming quite the motif in the movie... as does food for that matter.
Watching Southern fried chicken being cooked and chocolate pies being whipped up (with a secret ingredient or two) made me crave good-but-bad American food.
Risking her own friendships, Skeeter continues to meet with Aibileen and starts to keep a record of the incredible stories she tells, and soon more women come forward to tell their own stories.
Not surprisingly, unlikely friendships defying the classist and racial norms of the time are forged and new boundaries of what's acceptable behaviour towards hired help are established. The way the relationship between Skeeter and her mother (played by the inimitable Allison Janney) evolves is also heartwarming. Many poignant moments are played out, and for me, the ones that evoked tears were about pregnancy, babies, children, life, and loss.
And the line of the movie, uttered by Aibileen, to her young charge ("You is kind, you is smart, you is important") is one many will repeat to their own children.
Josie's Juice has three double passes to give away to see the movie, as well as three copies of the novel 'The Help'. All you need to do to be in the running to win a double pass and a copy of the book is tell us about a moment you stood up for something you believed in. Write your answer in the comments section just below.
Competition closes Friday September 9, 2011.
The Help is in cinemas now.
Watch the fabulous trailer here:
For Terms & Conditions, go here: http://www.nuffnang.com.au/terms-conditions-for-the-help-giveaway/
