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The Color Purple

The Color Purple

Drama · History · 1985

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.

Movie details

The Color Purple

“It's about life. It's about love. It's about us.”

1985 Drama · History 2h 34m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.7 / 10

Community rating

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Color Purple?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Steven Spielberg

Written by

Menno Meyjes

Danny Glover

Danny Glover

Albert

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg

Celie

Margaret Avery

Margaret Avery

Shug Avery

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey

Sofia

Willard E. Pugh

Willard E. Pugh

Harpo

Akosua Busia

Akosua Busia

Nettie

Desreta Jackson

Desreta Jackson

Young Celie

Court is in session

Put The Color Purple on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.