“For Colored Girls” ––Worthy of Viewing

By Parker, C

Tyler’s Perry new movie “For Colored Girls,” opened in theaters across the country November 5, 2010. This film is a departure from Perry’s typical drama and romance films, which usually scratch the surface on a wide range of issues within an extended African American family. They also often feature his infamous, beloved, and sometimes hilarious, Madea character.

The film “For Colored Girls” is an adaptation of the play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow Is Enuf,” written by poet Ntozake Shange. Written, directed and produced by Perry, it is also his first R-rated film. Based on Shange’s award winning stage play, the film has the difficult task of taking poetic words and turning them into a storyline. Tyler accomplishes this by adding male characters to the film––the original play consisted of only seven female characters.

The film addresses a series of “taboo” subjects within the African American community––from homosexuality and the recently written about down-low behavior of black gay men––to incest and molestation. The play was written in 1975 and appeared on Broadway in 1977. Therefore, there are probably generations of younger African Americans unaware of the play’s content. For those moviegoers who are unfamiliar with the play, if you’re expecting the typical Perry feel-good film, you will be disappointed. Madea is not in the “For Colored Girls” film. In fact, very little exist to laugh about in this film.

What’s missing is dialogue. The poetry spoken throughout the film begs for dialogue between characters, and not always the recital of one of the twenty poems from the original play. However, the film does get some parts right and perhaps we’ll see a trend in movies including more poetry. Or maybe, “For Colored Girls” will give a boost to poetry, like “Love Jones” gave a boost to spoken word.

The black ensemble cast of actresses and actors, including Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Phylicia Rashad, Kimberly Elise, Anika Noni Rose, Whoopi Goldberg, Macy Gray, Kerry Washington, Thandie Newton, Tessa Thompson, Omari Hardwick, Hill Harper, Michael Ealy, Khalil Kain and Richard Lawson, all give good performances but there are several outstanding, noteworthy performances. In particular, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, and Michael Ealy give strong, convincing performances of victims in denial of, hidden, accepted and ignored pain.

There’s online Oscar buzz surrounding this film. It’s been rumored that “For Colored Girls” might win Perry his first Oscar nomination. If so, then the performances by Devine, Newton, and Ealy are all worthy of Oscar nominations.

Warning: disclaimer ahead.

It should be noted this film may upset some moviegoers. There were not many dry eyes in the audience when I viewed the film. That said, if you are a survivor of physical abuse, molestation, or sexual abuse, some of the content––and in particular one scene––might be especially disturbing.