Lifestyles: Locals rediscover 'The Color Purple'
{The Lexington Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. attending a special presentation of the movie, The Color Purple in High Point. Contributed Photo."}
“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it,” Shug tells Celie in Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.”
Based on the 1982 Pulitzer-Prize winning novel, the second film adaptation of Walker’s colorful take on sisterhood dominated the box office with an $18 million opening.
The Color Purple was officially delivered to audiences on Monday courtesy of Winston-Salem homeowner Oprah Winfrey and others. Despite mixed reviews, the beloved story led as the second-biggest Christmas Day opening of all time. According to Entertainment Weekly, “The new adaptation of the beloved book/Broadway musical sang its way to $18 million from 3,152 North American theaters, dominating the box office. It’s the largest Christmas Day opening for a movie since 2009's Sherlock Holmes (which brought in $24.6 million).”
The film features High Point American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino and brings special attention to Piedmont/Triad connections to the cultural classic. When Broadway Barrino was presented with the opportunity to reprise "Celie" in a 2023 version of "The Color Purple," she originally declined.
“A huge reason why Barrino declined is because of the very real similarities between Celie's life and Barrino's, as a domestic violence survivor who struggled with depression,” CNBC’s Renée Onque surmised.
Partnered with powerhouses Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and Halle Bailey, the new adaptation of The Color Purple tries to honor the story of Alice Walker's novel, brought to the movie screen by Steven Spielberg in 1985.
The 2023 movie, which also stars Corey Hawkins and Taraji P. Henson -- grabs attention with deep North Carolina roots. Local fans are singing along to new and old favorites. “I already knew the story, but it still made me laugh and cry,” said one tearful moviegoer. Audiences can be heard clapping at the film’s closure and staying for credits.
Women from Buncombe Baptist Church joined millions of “The Color Purple” viewers on the first day of Kwanzaa 2023. {Contributed Photos}
A group of friends from Thomasville, Lexington, Durham, Burlington and Charlotte celebrate the reboot. {Contributed Photo}
Contributed Photo
Amid Oscar buzz, the Triad songstress brings the story back to Celie.
"She carries everybody," Barrino said. "And at the time I was on Broadway I was carrying everybody. And my life was so much like Celie's. But I'm glad that I did it because I'm not that girl anymore. And I got to see so many different things in Celie. She was beautiful she was strong and she held everybody together and she went through a lot of things, but look at Celie now."
Critics agree. “The Color Purple” will not be ignored.
To view “The Color Purple” in Davidson County visit HOME | lexingtoncinema
