In the beginning there was Driving Miss Daisy, And it begat The Help. It was fruitful and money-making, and so brought forth The Butler. From the chauffeur, to the maid, to the manservant, twenty-five years in the making.
None of us has seen Lee Daniels The Butler yet, I assume, but critics have and they say it is well done, even though there are certain inevitable overstated moments and some emotional button-pushing. Word is that Oprah is good as Eugene Allen/Forest Whitaker's wife.I must admit that I am intrigued about this cinematic telling of the true story of the butler to the presidents, eight in total. His name was Eugene Allen and his story was first told in an article in the Washington Post back in November of 2008 http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-butler-well-served-by-this-election/2013/08/13/961d5d78-0456-11e3-9259-e2aafe5a5f84_story.html The film is actually called Lee Daniel's The Butler because of a legal feud over the title. It's unfortunate that they didn't call it Eugene Allen's The Butler. He is the humble hero of the movie.
Apparently the film does give us intimations of Allen's Christian faith which was expressed in practical terms in his role as an usher in his Baptist Church, as well as other opportunities for service. Hundreds came to his funeral at the church in 2010, obviously several years before the fame this film has brought. Daniels included the faith element because he couldn't imagine telling a story with an underlying theme of civil rights without the gospel: "the first shall be last."
The three films I mention all focus on finding dignity and courage in circumstances and occupations which could be demeaning and soul-destroying. In all three stories personal faith is part of "keeping the faith."
Will you go to see The Butler? What do you think about these stories? Are they noble or patronizing? How about that element of faith?
3 comments:
Hoping to see this movie when it comes here. Saw the other two you mentioned, too ... powerful comments on North American refusal , still, to free the slaves, in spite of evidence of their equality - and superiority, in many cases... !
Looking foward to seeing this film. ( John Cussak as Nixon and Alan Rickman as Reagan!!) saw the other 2 you mentioned. Have spent some time to get a taste of what it is like to have a butler waiting on you.(Stayed 4 days at Culloden House, Scotland). He looked after everything, even before we thought of it!! Must sayI liked it for 3 days, don't think I would like it all the time. One of my son's friend is going through butler school. He loves it, plus they make great money!
We will have to offer a discussion opportunity after it shows here.
Having a butler for a few days? Cool. Butler school? Cooler!
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