The Color Purple (DVD 1998)

I decided to buy this DVD as the novel is a set book in my degree course, and thought this would be an ideal "back-up" to the book, which I loved. The film was not a disappointment and closely followed the novel especially at the beginning, with some artistic license from mid to end of the film.

The imagery of the actual colour purple is not emphasised as much in the film (in comparison to the novel) as I thought it could have been, especially as this is key to the underlying message of the storyline. There are scenes with the fields of purple/Nettie's clothes at the end of the film, but I feel there was more opportunity to use this symbolism in film, eg the colour of Celie's trousers, her room painted purple etc.

I found The Color Purple thought provoking and moving - it gave a real insight into prejudices in the early 1900's, not only between black and whites, but also between men and women in Southern USA.

I'd thoroughly recommend this film to others, especially those with an interest in 20th Century US history and the role of women in society.