I heard last week that a new version of The Color Purple was being released on Christmas Day. I felt the same interest in the movie that I felt back in 1985 when I was a junior in high school. I had read Alice Walkers epic novel, and was most interested in seeing the movie.
After it came out in theaters I asked my Dad if he would take my sister Lisa and I to see it. The Color Purple is a sister movie. It is also a Father Daughter movie and I thought we would have a good time going to see it together.
Lisa and I were both sick on the day we went to the movie. I have a photo of us taken on that day and in my scrapbook it says were we both sick.
When the final music scene rolled out and Shug started singing God is Trying to Tell you SOMETHING, the waves of glory that washed over my soul as I took in that epic story, just rolled over me in waves. I embedded the song and the trailers for both versions of the movie below.
Since that first viewing I have watched the movie several times and listened to God is Trying to Tell You something many times over these thirty plus years.
The theme of unwanted sexual advances and the long term ramifications of those crimes against young women is explored fully in this story.
The Color Purple is a redemption movie of healing and long suffering that ends with final reconciliation and healing of relationships. It is every woman’s story. Especially those of us who have been sexually assaulted by family members.
I am so curious to see what they have cooked up with this version and this retelling of Celie and Netties story. I have not seen the Broadway Version of the show yet, but I am hoping this movie is a mix between the original movie and the stage musical.
My own Dad raped me over and over during my childhood. Two children were conceived during these assaults. Both were aborted and used in Ritual Sacrifices. I had no memory of these events until the past few years.
At some point during my youth I began offering myself to my Father to stop him from grooming and molesting my four younger siblings.
He took this to mean that I was “all in” with the abuse and he considered me his own property to use and abuse whenever he wanted. I had no memory of my supposed “willingness” to service him sexually with oral sex until about ten years ago. I had a constant ring of rash around my mouth during those years.
When I left home to attend BYU I remember feeling so guilty that I had abandoned my six year old sister. I felt so protective of her. She was so little, Yet I also felt FREE for the first time in my life and was so grateful to be out of my parents home.
These mixed feelings of guilt, bondage, and freedom are also explored during the Color Purple story.
At the end of the day it is a story about family. I have forgiven my Father for the many assaults against me and his unwillingness to admit the truth publicly. He is dead now, but I do not harbor hate or vengeance feelings against him. I have handed it all over to the Lord Jesus Christ and I know Heavenly Father will judge fairly, judiciously, and any vengeance that is dolled out to anyone will come from God, not me.
I cannot wait to see this movie and I may even go hunt up my paper back copy of the book for another read.
Jenny Hatch