The Color Purple (1985)

Do you have control over your life? Can you do what you want, when you want, go where you want and feel safe when doing it? Then consider yourself lucky. For this hasn’t always been the case. Whether a serf or a slave, it hasn’t been that long since most folks had little or no control over their lives. But some of them do find the gumption to try. Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) is forced to marry a local widower whom she calls “Mister” (Danny Glover) whose real name is Albert Johnson. With his wandering eye, he’s leaning towards Celie’s younger, more attractive sister Nettie (Akosua Busia). He treats Celie like a slave, prodding her to clean his disorderly household and to care for his annoying children. He beats and rapes her often, intimidating Celie into submission. But Celie builds a friendship with Albert’s mistress Shug (Margaret Avery) which pushes her to make a stand against him and decide to leave in search of a new and better life.

Director:  Steven Spielberg Writer:  Alice Walker; Menno Meyjes Cast:
Danny Glover -  Albert Whoopi Goldberg -  Celie Margaret Avery -  Shug Avery Oprah Winfrey -  Sofia Willard Pugh -  Harpo Akosua Busia -  Nettie Desreta Jackson -  Young Celie Adolph Caesar -  Old Mister		Rae Dawn Chong -  Squeak Dana Ivey -  Miss Millie Leonard Jackson -  Pa Bennet Guillory -  Grady John Patton, Jr. -  Preacher Carl Anderson -  Rev. Samuel Susan Beaubian -  Corrine James Tillis -  Buster