In February, a story that was told by Steven Spielberg almost four decades ago was released in cinemas. Now you can watch the new version for the first time with a streaming subscription
Steven Spielberg is not only good at making gripping popcorn movies. Serious, sensitive material is also in good hands with the American filmmaker, as he has proven several times over the course of his career. A classic from this genre is The Color Purple, released in 1985 and based on the novel of the same name by Alice Walker.
Since last year (this year, if we go by German cinema releases), there has been a new cinematic version of the story that impresses with great images. However, the new edition of The Color Purple is very different from Spielberg’s adaptation in one respect. This time it is a musical
Expensive remake of The Color Purple: No Spielberg, but plenty of rousing songs
The Color Purple tells the story of Celie (Fantasia Barrino) and how she experiences the early 20th century in the USA as a black woman, starting with her childhood under an abusive father. No sooner is she rescued by her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) than the next man threatens to make her life hell. The domineering Albert (Colman Domingo) demands that Celie always call him “Mister.”
Here you can watch the trailer for The Color Purple:
As dark as the tones are that are struck in the course of the story: There is also a lot of hope in The Color Purple. For example, when Celie meets Sofia (Danielle Brooks) and Shug (Taraji P. Henson), who are like two sisters in spirit to her. Together they find light that breaks through the constricting darkness of their lives, not to mention all the music that flows through the movie.
Just like Spielberg’s version, the remake directed by Blitz Bazawule (Black Is King) is based on the original novel written by Walker in 1982. However, there is a second important source: The Color Purple in 2023 is also based on the Broadway play of the same name, which was first performed from 2005 to 2008 and received eleven Tonys and a successful revival.
