A Lifetime of Happiness: Movies, TV, and Video Games

The Help (2011)

July 20, 2022 Steve Bennet-Martin Season 1 Episode 129
A Lifetime of Happiness: Movies, TV, and Video Games
The Help (2011)
Show Notes Transcript

The Steves discuss the 2011 American classic, The Help, along with what's making them happy in pop culture today!

What's Making Us Happy?

  • Big Brother (CBS and Paramount Plus)
  • X-Men's Hellfire Gala (Comics)
  • Xenoblade Chronicles: The Definitive Edition (Switch)

Movie Topics Discussed:

  • Names and Numbers behind the scene
  • "You is kind, you is smart, you is important"
  • Skeeter and the root tea
  • Minnie and Celia's friendship
  • The Terrible Awful
  • …and more!

Ending- Any music or audio clips were borrowed from the original source material.

Support the show
Steve:

Hello, returning happys and new listeners. This is Steve Bennet-Martin

Stephen:

and this is Stephen Martin-Bennet. And welcome to a lifetime

Steve:

of happiness. The podcast where we take you on our journey through some of the movies, TV shows, and other bits of pop culture that are helped to keep us happy. Well, hopefully bring a smile or two to your face along the way. And

Stephen:

today we're continuing our July look at different slices of America with the help. I see

Steve:

what you did there. Two slices. Yes. And before we get into all of that, what's been making you happy. My love.

Stephen:

So it's been a couple different things. Um, video game wise, I recently replayed Xen blade Chronicles, definitive edition for the Nintendo. It originally came out on the, we, I didn't play it there. Uh, I got it on the 3d S when they released it for that and then replayed it now and it's even better. So

Steve:

would you say it's the definitive edition?

Stephen:

It is the definitive edition. That was truth in advertising than Tendo.

Steve:

Good to hear. Yes. You, you show me like screenshots of, or like pictures of you playing it and definitely they did a great job of upscaling it to the switch.

Stephen:

And then also, um, we had a big comic event this week with our Xmen the hellfire gala, which is always fun of fashion looks and drama. And this year was no different. So that was a lot of fun as well.

Steve:

Yes. Uh, it certainly wasn't turning Mars into a planet for mutants. No.

Stephen:

You mean

Steve:

Roco Roco? Yes. Yes. But it certainly with the revelation about resurrection being out and about not to mention that what that ever that bitch Mora is up to Yes. I am very excited to see what the future of Xmen holds. It's been a great couple years in Xmen comics and I don't see any signs of it slowing down.

Stephen:

Not at all. What about you, Mike darling, what's been making you happy. Well,

Steve:

it is officially the summer because we are in big brother season

Stephen:

previously on big brother,

Steve:

stay safe and be kind Julie Chen Moonves. Yes. Uh, you know, last season made history with the cookout Alliance. Leading to the first black African American or black winner of the show. Yes. And this season, the cast is so far pretty likable. Now that crazy bitch from our Paloma is gone on back of the woods is gone.

Stephen:

No Paloma or she's from Miami isn't she? But cuz Alyssa's from Sarasota that can't decide where in Sarasota she's from, whether it's, um, long Bo key long Bo keys, CTA, key Sarasota and, and like sweet. Nobody there knows the difference. Just say one of them. Yes,

Steve:

exactly. But I am enjoying the cast so far. Any favorites of yours that stand out? Um, I

Stephen:

enjoy Brittany the hypnotherapist. Yes. I, um, am looking for Taylor to get a fair shake. Now that Paloma is gone. Mm-hmm um, and I also like the gay guy. That's a super fan. Michael. I think his name is

Steve:

yes. Yes, I do too. And I like that, you know, while he is gay, he's not automatically like, oh, I'm gonna Alliance with all the girls in the house. Mm-hmm, like, he's still like doing his own thing and playing his own game. And I really like that. So I'm excited to see what this season has in store for us. But, you know, growing up with big brother, it doesn't feel like summertime until big brother is on I three nights a week. Yes.

Stephen:

It's been going on for this is 24th season, but the 20, 22nd

Steve:

year. Yeah, something like that. but yes. Are you ready to get into the help? My love, I am. Well, for those of you, not in the know, we are about to spoil the entire movie, so we recommend you watching it and coming back, but we should do our best to describe what happened if you haven't watched it and don't mind spoilers. Yeah. But IMDB summarizes the movie as an inspiring author. During the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African American maids point of view on the white families, for which they. And the hardships they go through on a daily basis. I

Stephen:

hate that summary with the white hot passion of a thousand sons. Yes. Um, that like, which we'll get into in a bit, but that totally comes off as white savior summary. Yeah. Like Emma Stone. Wasn't actually the lead, the narrator and lead character is Viola Davis. Yes, it is. And. like it discounts all the black actresses in the movie, including Octavia, Spencer. It like, Ugh. I hate that summary with a passion and I wouldn't even try to summarize it myself because right now I can't get that in out of my head, but that's a bad, bad summary.

Steve:

Well, why don't we then switch it up with why you love the movie?

Stephen:

Okay. So thanks to this movie, Octavia, Spencer. Came to be a star. Um, Viola Davis became an even bigger star. The first time I saw her, I believe was in doubt with Meryl Streep and, um, this made her a huge, huge star and, um, favorite turning performances from Bryce, Dallas Howard and Jessica chestain like the women in this movie. Acted their asses off.

Steve:

Yeah. I love the mostly female cast and how strong all of them were. And I love the poo and the pie. Yeah. that's what I always remember this movie as and, uh, it is a 2011 period comedy drama written and directed by Tate Taylor, who we also know from the girl on the train. Very good movie. And based on Catherine Stockett's 2009 novel of the same name. Funny enough,

Stephen:

I read the book. Yes. After the movie. Um, this is one of the few times the movie is better than the book. Well, the

Steve:

book was rejected 60 times before it was eventually published, but it did go on to the New York times bestseller list for 103 weeks. Six of which were at number one

Stephen:

probably after the movie came out, I would think so. And because that's when I bought it and it's not a bad book at all. The movie's just better.

Steve:

Yes. And Taylor and Stockett were childhood friends in Jackson, Mississippi. It's not about Jackson. It is about Jackson in this case. Yes. But it's nice that the author and the director like kind of know, knew each other. Yeah. And it stars Viola Davis, as you mentioned, Jessica chestain Octavia, Spencer, Bryce, Dallas, Howard, Allison, Jan, and Emma. I

Stephen:

mean, that's a

Steve:

hell of a cast. It certainly is. And Spencer, while Viola is the one who narrated the movie itself. Yeah. Octavia Spencer is the one who provides the narration for the audio book adaptation.

Stephen:

And there is a little bit of, um, hindsight. Scandal with the movie. Yes.

Steve:

Despite getting an Oscar nomination from it. Viola Davis has expressed regret about her role in the film, apparently concurring with critics of its white savior narrative. Now my love, what is the white savior narrative?

Stephen:

So it's kind of like the green book movie or whatever, but it's, um, are so right. So a white person comes in to a situation where it is black indigenous people of color. And the white person is the reason that these people are saved, brought up into, um, a new higher level, blah, blah, blah. Um, if you look at the movie dangerous minds with Michelle Pfeiffer, yes, totally white savior storyline. It's maybe true. But still it's along in the same lines.

Steve:

Yes. In an interview with the New York times, Davis cited the help as a role. She regretted saying, I just felt that at the end of the day, that it wasn't the voices of the maid that were heard. I know Aine, I know many, they're my grandma. They're my mom. And I know if you do a movie where the whole premise is, I want to know what it feels like to work for white people and to bring up children in 1963. I want to hear how you really feel about it. I never heard that in the course of the movie,

Stephen:

so. I cannot discount her feelings on it because she's a black woman who has had these experiences in her family. So her opinions and anybody who has watched it, your opinions are valid for me. The way I saw Emma Stone's character was an ally who had the privilege, the privilege. To use that power that she had to give a voice to the voiceless. I didn't see it as white savior. I saw it as someone that was using their privilege for good. Yeah. That's how I took it. And also,

Steve:

I mean, I can't discount that experience in hindsight as always 2020, and we do things we regret and while we're doing them, we don't regret them, but it's not like she didn't know what movie she was signing up for. Didn't read the script like. Correct

Stephen:

as well. And, but we also know that if it weren't for this movie, she wouldn't have had how to get away with murder or many other things. This movie turned the corner in her career. She's just as talented as Meryl Streep. It took much longer for people to realize it. Yes. And we have this movie to thank for. Millions upon millions of people. Finally seeing how talented Viola Davis

Steve:

truly is. Yes. I mean, the film was a huge success bringing in 216.6 million on a budget of 25 million and receiving four academy award nominations, including Octavia Spencer's win for best supporting actress, which she definitely

Stephen:

deserves. Yep. I think she was up against, um, Chasta for best supporting actress and. Funny enough, Viola Davis ended up losing de Meryl Streep that year. Yeah. And I thought that, and I, I think it was Merrill one for the iron lady, um, where she played Margaret Thatcher. Um, I thought for sure, Viola Davis had it in the bag with this one. Um, but the academy does love Merrill and I can't, um, fault them for that, but this was an amazing turn and Vila has since. Emmys and Oscars.

Steve:

Yes. And the movie starts off framing that it's 1963 and Abilene Clark is an African American made in Jackson, Mississippi. She works for the socialite Elizabeth Leal, caring for the daughter may Mobley, whom Elizabeth neglect. Abilene's best friend and fellow made mini Jackson. The best cook in Mississippi works for Mrs. Walters, whose daughter hilly Holbrook is an evil cunt and leads the women's socialite group and is the president of the city's junior league chapter and

Stephen:

hilly needed the best cook in Mississippi. So she moved Mrs. Walters into her house. Just so she could have many as her

Steve:

maid. Yes. Now, one thing that I remember from this movie, besides the pie yeah. Is. Alene saying to the little girl who needs to hear it. Yeah. Cause her mom doesn't show her affection. You is kind, you is smart. You is important.

Stephen:

Or in Cincinnati with, um, Sherry McKinley, myself and the cool kids club, we would say you is mean you is dumb you as

Steve:

insignificant. I know. And hearing that every night before I go to bed, just. Me down. I say sweet dreams afterwards. Oh, there is that. I guess now Abilene's mother was a maid and her mother, her, her mother's mother was a house slave Soine felt it was the only line of work she was ever really going to do. And

Stephen:

I do think, especially before before civil rights movement and things in situations in the black community, you were, um, pigeonholed like that. Taking it from even a white perspective watching, um, down Nabby where the whole upstairs, downstairs, where, um, you see, well, my mother was a house made and I'm a house made like certain jobs of servitude seemed to be what you're born into and generat. Unless someone is willing to give you a hands up mm-hmm like, or Aine worked really hard to get her son into college so that he could be a writer and propel the family

Steve:

hire. Yeah. And as much as ski ends up being like one of the, the few likable white characters, Mrs. Walter is a close second. Yes. She is obsessed with her stories, which is the guiding light,

Stephen:

which is the best soap opera of all time. The longest. Um, running television show in history at 72 years, I believe. Um, and Mrs. Walters is played by sissy Spek. So she's either wonderful in this or she'll use her telekinesis and burned down the school gym gymnasium. Yes.

Steve:

Elizabeth and Hilly's mutual best friend Eugenia ski. Feeling a recent graduate of Ole miss and an aspiring writer is hired to write the column. Miss Merna, about cleaning tips. Okay.

Stephen:

Funny casting. Yes. In this of her boss.

Steve:

Yes.

Stephen:

Oh, Leslie Jordan, Leslie Jordan playing straight. Yes. As much as Leslie Jordan

Steve:

and yes. and she's, uh, uncomfortable with her town's racist attitudes towards their maids, including hill Hilly's insistent on installing separate bathrooms for the help due to the belief that they carry different diseases. Yeah. Called the home health sanitation initiative, which is endorsed by the white citizens council. Because of course it is. Yeah.

Stephen:

Hey, whenever you build those bathrooms. You will double the money you invested when you try to sell mark. My words.

Steve:

Yes. Scooter lives with her parents at longleaf, their cotton plantation scooter learned that her mother Charlotte fired Constantine, the maid who raised her and decides to write a book of interviews with African American maids, working with white families.

Stephen:

Well, never addressed in the movie. We learned in the book that skier got her nickname because she was born, um, long leg. And the appearance caused her brother to mark that she looked like a mosquito or as people in the south called them skiers,

Steve:

which is cute. Yeah. And skate's mom, Charlotte is sick with cancer, but also worried sick that scooter won't find a man going. As far as the show concerned that scooters having a natural thoughts about women suggesting a root tea that could cure lesbianism.

Stephen:

So one of my favorite things is when, um, after she has that whole conversation with. About the, but there is a cure. Yeah, there's a root tea and, but they're having, um, dinner with the family and skate's trying to get answers from the family about why did Constantine leave us? Cuz at first her mother lies and said, Constantine quit. And skate's like, yo, she raised me. She wouldn't have left without saying anything. And um, then she's like, Then when skis, like, don't worry, mom, if I'm having any unnatural thoughts, there's a root tea that can

Steve:

help. Yes. I wonder what is in that root tea and what it's made of and why they thought that that would cure lesbianism? I don't know, but I

Stephen:

probably have the herbs here in the house. Probably. Now one of my favorite things is even though we don't see Constantine during current day things, we see flashbacks with her and she really did raise skier the way that we see. Abling raising me Mobley. Yes. And, um, ski didn't get asked to the school dance and she said, the boys tell her that she's, um, ugly and Constantine sits her down and she says, every day, you're not dead in the ground. You ask yourself, am I gonna believe all the bad things then fool will say about me today. And

Steve:

that's a good piece of advice even today.

Stephen:

I mean, that's one of those things. So many times in our lives, we let other people's opinions determine how we feel about

Steve:

ourselves. Yes. Now many is soon fired by hilly for using the guest bathroom during a tornado storm. And it becomes rendered unemployable due to Hilly's lies about her stealing. And she does something to get her back, but she's too ashamed to tell Abilene, she'll take it to her grave. That terrible, awful.

Stephen:

I love that. She calls up the terrible, awful. Yes. The whole movie. Oh, it's the terrible, awful.

Steve:

Yes. She later finds a job as a Houseman for Celia foot, a housewife ostracized by the socialites because she married. Hilly's ex-boyfriend. Celia treats many with respect and they become friends, but keep mini's employment a secret from Celia's husband, Johnny. So he thinks she's doing all the work herself because she doesn't want Johnny to feel like she can't be a good housewife who can cook and clean and she doesn't wanna let him down. Uh, later we also learn or see that she suffers a miscarriage and reveals to many that she had three previously, the first of which led to their Welock and the two of which after Johnny's unaware of.

Stephen:

So. Of all the amazing things in the movie, including, um, Viola Davis. My favorite part of the movie is the friendship between mini and Celia foot Octavia, Spencer and Jessica Chastain have such amazing chemistry and they created a real friendship on the set so much so that they were doing a movie together. Um, recently. And Jessica Chasta was like, well, if you're going to cast me and her, she has to make what I make. Yeah. And J Octavia Spencer was like, that's an ally. Yes, it is. And one of the, it's just, I love Celia's joy. And with shaking the bag of chicken, she shakes the bag of chicken, which is just amazing. But even whenever. Many first shows up and she comes outside with a Coca-Cola and she's just so excited. And you could see because of how she was, where she was born in sugar ditch, that she was poor white trash. She doesn't think of herself as better than the help, the way these girls that are in the junior league. Think of the help as just the help. Yeah. Like she definitely doesn't see many. On a different level than her many just does a job that needs done that she doesn't

Steve:

know how to do. Yeah, I would say in some way, she even, almost looks up to many for being able to do all these things that she can't do. Oh. And like idolizes her, like she's the one who keeps on trying to like push down the minis walls of like no hogs and not sitting at the same table.

Stephen:

And which that is one of my favorite things too, that, um, They make the fried chicken and Celia comes in and she goes, mm, this looks delicious. And then he goes, miss Celia told you, you have to eat out there. You cannot eat in here. And CELs like, I'm fine right here. Yes. She and she at, she used her. I'm your employer voice at that point? Yes. Just to be like, you have to hang out with me. Yes and I love that. That was the day they were making the fried chicken and she. This is too good. Johnny's gonna figure it out. We're gonna have to burn the chicken a little bit. and Octavia, Spencer says many don't burn, no chicken. Yes. It's the whole thing. Even as you were talking about their interaction after the miscarriage, when Celia, um, plants, a rosebush for each baby she's lost and many is. it's this story of friendship that I think anchors the movie for

Steve:

me. Yeah. I agree. Uh, meanwhile, a scooter reaches out to Aine who eventually agrees to be interviewed after hearing a sermon at church as does many later on Elaine steins scooter's editor at Harper and row tells her that stories of teammates are not enough, but the fear of retribution prevents other maids from coming. Alene tells ski about her struggle to cope with the death of her only son who died due to the negligence of white men and believes the book will help her find closure.

Stephen:

So these interviews are really impressive and they ring and they're not all tell all type of things. Yeah. Because you know, there's the story of how somehow, um, One of the maids got left in the will yeah. Of her employer. And she now works for the daughter. And if black people had been able to be their own advocate that never would've flown, but you know, you'd have to go to court and they can't afford that. But on the other end of things, you had the maid that worked out on a large farm. And

Steve:

he's owner

Stephen:

and the employer. Yeah. She used to cut through these two acres of land that were owned by somebody else. And one day she was out there and the guy that owned the land was out there with a shotgun and said, if she stepped foot on there again, he would shoot her dead. Well, her employer bought those two acres of land from the guy, just so that she could take a shortcut to get to work. So there were stories. Karen, I was treated with respect or I was treated as an object that could be bought and sold. Yes.

Steve:

Uh, Abilene also says scooter's the first white person ever in her

Stephen:

home, according to black Twitter, if you are a white person with black friends, but you've never been invited to your black friend's home, you aren't as close as you might think.

Steve:

Well, thank you for that. Yes. Now name Mobley says you're my real mama Abby. So telling of the only affection she's receiving from an.

Stephen:

Which it like it broke my heart. I know. And I'm not sure if it's meant to be sweet or if you're meant to think, dear Lord, this child is two, three, something like that. Yeah. And is already aware of the dispar between the two female adults in her life. Mm-hmm Ugh and whenever abling is first approached by a skier, like whenever we're talking about how things are different there. Yeah. She says, you know, I can't do this skier. My cousin went to, um, go vote and they set her car on fire. If I talked to you, I might as well set my own house on fire. And it's kind of the idea of people violently silencing those. The. And getting away with is still happening today. Like we saw with Kyle written house going across state lines and quote unquote, and we have to say this cuz of the law, allegedly murdering people. And, but, and then there's the other side of it that when many first finds out and she comes into Abilene's kitchen and she goes, what makes you think colored people need your help? And ski says that she just wants to show their perspective. So it's also a sense of pride, I guess, from Minnie's perspective that we don't need you coming in here trying to help out things when you most likely are gonna make things worse. Now civil rights was a hot button issue of the time because of Jim Crow laws, which were different for each state. And hilly goes after skier for reading up on Jim Crow laws and about civil rights, um, issues in Mississippi and some of the Mississippi Jim Crow laws were, um, it was illegal. To produce any written material, whether printed or handwritten in favor of social equality. Um, you had to have separate areas where white people and black people at theaters or any public, um, accommodation place. Um, any book used in a white school cannot go to a black school and vice versa. Um, black barbers may not cut the hair of white women or white children and public bathrooms were separated from black people and white people as. As water fountains. It boggles my mind that this was a thing and people were okay with it.

Steve:

Yes,

Stephen:

it is wild because this was the 1960s. We are, um, a hundred years post- slavery, roughly at that point mm-hmm and still, yeah. And still. We're not making a fastest progress as we need. And that's still a thing today. I know this is a lifetime of happiness truths need to be said though.

Steve:

Yes. And after canceling a bunch of dates, eventually ski goes on a date with he's friend Stewart. The first date doesn't go so well since he was a drunk asshole, but is drawn to scooter's be brutal honesty. And they end up having a successful second date and begin dating as he lets his guard down. So

Stephen:

at the first date, whenever he was being misogynistic and an idiot, she just looks at him in the middle of the restaurant, says, were you dropped on your head as a child or were you just born stupid?

Steve:

Yes. And I love that before the date, Charlotte, the mom says love and hate are two horns on the same. And you need to go and I love that. Like, we've talked about that in the movie before where like love and hate, like end up becoming one in the same. Yeah. And how we, you know, we don't necessarily feel like it always works like that. In reality, even though it did our first interactions, didn't go so well. It was the later ones that worked out

Stephen:

much better. Yes. And while people say that love is the opposite of hate, I actually think that love is the opposite of in.

Steve:

Yes. And Hilly's bathroom initiative continues as a subplot throughout the movie causing friction between ski and her, because she refuses to publish it in this newsletter. Eventually she does, but she changes, drop old coats off to my house with commodes. And hilly is mortified by all the toilets left on her front lawn.

Stephen:

And hilly was so proud that she had won the best lawn in Jackson, Mississippi. And she had a sign on her front lawn saying it was the best lawn. And so there's like two dozen old toilets on her front lawn. She's losing her mind and. Mrs. Leal has to go over there with Alene and may Mobley. Yeah. And may Mobley is so proud to show her mommy that she can use the toilet by herself and uses one of the toilets on the front lawn. Except of course then that Mrs. Leal spanks her in front of everyone and Aine has to, um, sit there and endure well, and then try to cheer the child up again. But for a minute there, it was really, really

Steve:

funny. Yes uh, and

Stephen:

so hilly has a new maid because of, um, firing MI. Her name is, um, Yume and hilly refuses to advance money to Yume. Um, she, UL may, um, she needs$75. Her Yume and her husband had been saving up to send both of their boys to college, their twin. So they have to go at the same time. Mm-hmm and, um, they are$75 short to be able to pay both tuitions. So unless she can come up with$75, they have to pick between the twins as to which one can go to college and she asks hilly for, um, and it, or, um, an advance roughly. Yeah. And, um, Hill's like, you know what? I'm gonna do you a favor. It's the good Christian thing in me, not to give you a handout. You'll appreciate this later on that, you know, you'll have worked for the money

Steve:

bitch. Yes. So later on, she does discover a lost ring under the sofa and pawns it. But as later brutally will arrested as hilly watches with glee, this incident and the local assassination of Medgar Evers inspires more maids to tell scooter their stories.

Stephen:

Yeah, the Medgar Evers assassination is historically. And the movie contains real life national news headlines.

Steve:

Yeah. And as we mentioned it, it's just like touching to hear these maids, tell their stories like, and the help tell their stories, like, cuz it is that mix of, you know, so, and so shouldn't be having children or so, and so put that in there. Yeah. Hm. Uh, you know, as mixed in with things like the kindness that other people would show mm-hmm and it just goes to show that difference of how some families would treat their help and others treated them with more

Stephen:

respect, right. Because there's not gonna, you know, for every hilly there isn't a Celia, even though you wish everyone was a Celio.

Steve:

Yes. Now, following the assassination of JFK ski, Aine, and mini meat fearing, the made stories will be recognized. Many finally reveals the terrible, awful as a form of insurance after her termination many brought hill, her famous chocolate pie, but revealed after hill had finished two slices that she had baked her own shit into it. and said, eat my shit. You already did. And hill later forced her mother into a nursing home for laughing at her during the incident.

Stephen:

I loved whenever, um, Bryce, Dallas Howard went off to go throw. And Minnie was like, time to go. And, uh, she's like CE space, six run mini run and she's sitting there cackling the whole

Steve:

time. Yes. And Bryce was aware that hilly was awful, awful saying that she put on her official Facebook page that she hung a photo of hilly above her own toilet, where she belongs

Stephen:

and Bryce, Dallas, Howard, her performance is so convincing. In this as hilly. Yeah. That it's almost like that she would be this person kind of like when we're watching the boys and the guy that plays, um, home Lander. Yeah. I'm like, he must be an awful person in real life or game of Thrones with Joffrey

Steve:

Barian. Yeah. And when you play evil really well, it's almost like you're evil.

Stephen:

Right. And it's hard to picture them as anything. And it wasn't a couple more years until, um, you know, Jurassic world where Bryce, Dallas Howard kind like got to come out as like the hero character. Yeah. Instead of this awful villain, but oh, damn, she's good in this movie, but it's just

Steve:

horrible. Yeah. And CEL goes to one of the bridge games with a mini pie, but hilly has everyone hide and pretend they aren't there. Even though the driveway is full of cars. Eventually Celia sees them through the window. And it finally dawns on her that they'll never accept her, which is heartbreaking. That

Stephen:

scene hurt so much whenever she could hear them all through the window. And she realized that it wasn't, you know, a fun game that the whole town was against her and many. It's because you're white

Steve:

trash. Yeah. And Celia believes it's because hilly thinks Celia stole her man while hilly and Johnny were still dating. I think it's when, which we know is not true, which is not true. But I feel like either way, it's a little bit of

Stephen:

both. Oh yeah. Because they obviously, no matter what I'm guessing, even if one of their male friends. was well todo married a woman from sugar ditch that none of them had met before. She would not be welcome at the junior league.

Steve:

Yes. And I don't think she's missing out on anything, but either way, the stress of it all causes Celia to get drunk at a fundraiser. And she tries to smooth things over with hilly only to embarrass herself publicly. Meanwhile, Hilly's mother bids for one of mini's chocolate pies in order to humiliate her daughter for putting her into a nursing home MI ultimately reveals the truth about the terrible, awful Cecil. Saying she can't leave Johnny and run home with her tail between her legs or hilly. Would've beaten them both.

Stephen:

I love Celia's face in that scene where she just says, thank you for telling me. And you're like, and you're like, what is she really thinking? Obviously she's somewhat mortified. And then she's also thinking, oh God, I can't piss her off or she's going to do this for me, for me.

Steve:

Yeah. scooter confronts her mother about having fired Constantine after a lifetime of service and Charlotte confesses. What had happened. During a daughters of America luncheon, which just sounds like a luncheon you would never want to go to. Nope.

Stephen:

It definitely sounds like daughters of the Confederacy KK.

Steve:

Yeah. uh, she fired Constantine to save face because Constantine's daughter Rachel embarrassed Charlotte by discipling her orders to enter through the kitchen. Rachel said Constantine to Chicago where she later died. Charlotte feels guilty. She wasn't brave enough to stand up for someone who served her for two decades and helped raise her.

Stephen:

Uh, this is one of the most heartbreaking things in the movie and a very strong example of peer pressure because you see Charlotte, keep wanting to say, just go to the kitchen. It'll be fine. And then the woman, that's the president that came all the way down from DC saying you may be okay with these things happening. Your. But I'm not saying if you want to be accepted by us, you're not going to let this stand either. And so she was forced to fire right then and there. And the next day they went to Constantine's house, but it was already empty. And Charlotte sent her son to Chicago to bring Constantine home. Um, but unfortunately she was already dead of a broken heart. Yeah.

Steve:

Which is. Sad very much. So in happier news, the book is published anonymously and is a success. Ski does the right thing and splits the$600 advance between every maid who shared$46 each, which is a lot to them.

Stephen:

And a lot in, I mean, In 1960 something. It's a

Steve:

lot. Yes, exactly. When Mrs. Walters reads the book at her retirement community, she identifies the book as about Jackson and insists fervently that hilly

Stephen:

read it. You should read this book and hilly wasn't paying attention until, you know, she's like, it's quite scandalous. what book mama.

Steve:

Yeah. Yeah. Meanwhile, Stewart breaks things off with ski for writing the book saying she went too far that things are fine in Jackson, Wester of trouble. And that she's a selfish woman who is better off alone. Hmm. Now, is she better off without any man or just this man? Um,

Stephen:

I say just this man. I think she could be happy with whoever would make her happy. But this man is not a good man. We saw a good side of him, but on his first impression night mm-hmm that was got, got tanked. Yeah. Yeah. That's who he was. And like this whole thing makes me think of two different quotes that say pretty much the same thing. The first one is by Desmond two, two. If you are neutral on situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppress. or the ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that oppression by the good people by Martin Luther king, Jr. I've always lived. I mean, you know, I live by this. I'm not gonna sit there and let somebody say something and not stand up and say, you're wrong. You're awful.

Steve:

Fuck off. Yes. Now, Celia who finally sees what a manipulative bully hilly is writes a check to one of Hilly's charity groups made out to two slice hilly infuriated, hilly threatens to Sue ski for libel, but backs down when skier reminds her that she would have to publicly admit that the pie story was about her Charlotte intervenes, showing that she knows about the terrible, awful and orders silly off the property, reconciling the grudge between her and her daughter. She lets her know how proud she is of the book and job offer in New York city, telling scooter that sometimes courage skips the generation and thanks her for bringing it back to the family.

Stephen:

There are two lines in there by Charlotte that I love, you know, hilly, if I didn't know better, I'd say you'd been eating too much pie. Now get your raggedy ass off my porch. And then when she tells her to go off her dream job and don't worry about me. I've decided not to die. Yes. Because if anybody could just decide that cancer wasn't going to beat them, it would be Charlotte feelin. True.

Steve:

yes. Now Johnny tells many, he knows she's been working at his house and how thankful he is for her friendship with Celia, how Celia began getting better as soon as many came. And it truly saved her life in that she's permanent job security. If she wants. This kindness gives many the courage, take her children and leave her abusive husband.

Stephen:

I loved that side effect of all this. And also I love that that day when it all happened, that as a thank you, Celia had stayed up all night, making all the things many had taught her to make. And when many's looking at the table, she says that's a mile high Mir miss Celia saying, good job. Yeah. And then Johnny holds at her chair and pushes it in for. And Celia serves her showing that they are friends and she's a guest in her home here. Yes. It, it was the perfect end of their story in this, knowing that it's going to continue for the betterment of both of them.

Steve:

Yes. I mean, while everyone at church celebrates Aine for her book and lifts her up as a hero to their community, realizing that she couldn't have, you know, done it with herself at that time, but that they know it was her that did it. Yep.

Stephen:

And. Because she's also the one that all the other maids would look up to, they respect her a great deal. Yeah. And I honestly think if Aing, hadn't been the name attached to it, a lot of them probably wouldn't have done it. Like, even if you may, hadn't been in jail, if you may have been coming to them, They would've been like, no, thank you.

Steve:

Yeah. But Aine kind of led credibility to it all. Yeah. Now seeking revenge for helping skier, hilly pressures, Elizabeth determining, enabling framing her for the theft of silverware. Aine stands up to hilly who breaks down and storms out. And Elizabeth orders Alene to leave Aine bids, farewell to may pleading with Elizabeth, to give her daughter a chance and seeing her re daughter's reaction to A's departure moves Elizabeth to tears.

And

Stephen:

as Abalene walking away, um, you get one last narration from Viola Davis. God says, you have to love your enemies. It's not easy, but you can start by telling the truth.

Steve:

Yep. And then she reflects on the ordeal and finds closure officially retiring from help work and looking to our own future as a writer,

Stephen:

final thoughts. I do love this movie. The it like, you know, looking back at it, maybe it isn't as successful with hindsight as you know, Viola Davis doesn't see it. Um, but I think that there was a large population of white people that saw this, that needed to see it needed to see it. And I also am thankful. That this movie gave us Octavia Spencer, that it elevated Viola Davis. It gave us Jessica Chastain. It elevated Bryce, Dallas, Howard above just that my dad's Ron Howard. Like these are four women that I am so thankful. Got a spotlight because of this movie. Yes.

Steve:

I agree that it was just a really enjoyable movie to watch. Uh, you know, not every talking point is fun or happy. But it is an important movie for an important themed month. So thank you. My love for picking it out. You're very welcome.

Stephen:

And you know, while not all the talking points might have made us happy, you know, what does make me happy

Steve:

me? Yes. And our

Stephen:

listeners. That's right. And we would love to hear what you all thought of this movie or any other suggestions you like, if there's some movie you want us to cover, let us. We're more than happy to hear and then just tell you no. Yes, I'm kidding. Exactly.

Steve:

So you can do that by emailing us at happy life pod, gmail.com, or

Stephen:

you can get in touch with us on all the socials, whether that is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok at happy

Steve:

life pod. And until next to everyone stay, stay happy.