A MOVIE REVIEW OF THE HELP

May 2012

By students of première

A movie review of The Help written by Laetitia

What is your favourite moment in the movie ?

In my opinion, the end of the movie is the best moment, because when the book was published , we can see the relief of the principal characters : Skeeter, Minny and Aibileen, who are very happy because it means that their sacrifices and their determinations to write the book were useful . The writing of the book allows the people of Jackson to understand the situation of black persons in this era, and that they are subject to discriminations, and it shows the struggle of these people. In addition, at the end of the film, we see the black community appear proud and happy for the publication of the book because it could make people react, perhaps even leaders or ministers, and thus improve living conditions for black people . Moreover, at the end of the movie, the situation of the main characters is improving since black maids earn profits ( money ) and have better living conditions. In conclusion, my favorite moment of the movie is the end because the battle for the black's rights, made along the film, has succeeded and the situation of the main characters has evolved positively.

…And what about the moment you like least ? The moment I least like is the scene when a friend of Aibileen’s is arrested by the police because in this scene, the woman wants to get her bag before going to the police station but the officer does not allow her, then she struggles and yells to get her bag while Aibileen advises her to let it go ; still she does not want and the policeman hits her behind the head with his nightstick ( in a public place ) and she goes to prison. I do not like this moment because it is sad and violent, and because it reflects the situation of black people in this era, when they had no right to complain or cry or they may have put their lives at risk. Moreover, this scene also shows the inability of the population to defend one another because the scene is in a public place and the people who see the policeman do nothing . Then this is quite realistic and I can imagine that at the time, to kill someone in front of people and without reason , just because she was black , did not bother them , and so, that the lives of black people in these years were disastrous .

Can you narrate a moment in the movie from the point of view of one specific character ? I was inside the house , in the room with Hilly . I heard a knock at the door and Hilly opened it . Until then, it was one of those common and also boring moments. Then , Hilly returned to the room with Minny and a pie in her hand . It was astonishing that Minny wanted to apologize with a pie . Knowing Hilly, I didn't think it would change anything and Hilly would give her job back, but she could try . Hilly sat while Minny stood looking at her . I was watching, Minny has a strange expression on her face ; she seemed to expect something of Hilly, but despite her situation, I felt she wanted to smile . For me, the day became ore interesting . Hilly looked at the pie and then began to eat a bite before the insistent gaze of Minny . Hilly, with an arrogant and pretentious voice looked while saying she was ready to listen . Then, Minny told her she would not get her maid back but this pie was apologizing

for her behavior. It was a nice initiative to offer a pie but I did not really see why to make a pie for Hilly if she didn't want to get her job back . I looked at the pie that seemed delicious and then I approached to take a slice . When I began to cut the pie, Minny looked at me strangely, then she said that I should not eat it because she had made this cake especially for Hilly. Then, she continued to talk with Hilly, Minny got upset and suddenly said "eat my shit”. There was a second of silence in which I saw the face of Hilly which decomposed . She was both offended by what she heard, even more because it came from a black person but moreover very angry . Then, Hilly replied with an upset tone she did not accept Minny talk like this, However Minny said with a mischievous smile " it's already done " and then looked at the pie . Hilly looked at the pie and understood . When I understood what Hilly had eaten, I saw the expression of disgust on the face of my daughter , I could not stop myself laughing out loud . Minny is the first person who managed to stand up to her . As for Hilly , she immediately began to run to the toilet .

Movie Review by Constance…Movie My favorite moment was …When we knew that all the maids had agreed to testify and tell their stories. Thus it has allowed to release the book “THE HELP”, drafted by Skeeter. Furthermore, this moment was moving because it was already the beginning of a victory for them. This extract was the best moment of the movie because, for me, it’s from there that we learn more information on the maids’ real lives.

The least moving moment was …One moment without particular action. For me, it was when all the women met to play bridge at the beginning of the movie. It was an ordinary scene where young women tell about their lives and where the maids waited on them. I shall say that this passage was boring. This extract of the movie brought to light the superficial character of all the women present except Skeeter. To conclude, I found the first moment of the bridge as being the least moving of the movie contrary to passages where the maids are killed and humiliated or still when at the end Aibileen is fired.

Aibileen was always kind with me and often by saying to me that I was kind, intelligent and important. For a long time, she was my REAL mother because it’s her who educated me (for example when she taught me to have a pee on toilets) and who took care of me in spite of the work my mom asked her to do. Until now, I have been happy and I owe it to my Aibi. But today was the most hideous day ever. Aibi came at the same hour as usually but today she looked sad and at the same time irritated. Then, Hilly, mom’s friend, shouted at Aibileen because she accused her of having stolen some piece of the silverware. Yet Aibi had nothing to do with it so she answered her that she possessed no such thing. But Hilly absolutely believed nothing. I heard this discussion from the kitchen and it’s when I heard Aibi say that it was maybe me that had put them in my bed, I went to the lounge to try to show that Aibi was right. Indeed, I had taken some flatware of the silverware to play with. But very fast, the tone went up and Aibi and Hilly quarreled, then Aibi sent me a last word to tell me that she loved me and to repeat that I was kind, intelligent and important. Afterwards, she left. I “ran” up to windows of the bedroom and I began shouting, crying and taping the windows. I hoped Aibi would turn around. But, nothing took place and my heart broke in spite of my young age.

A movie review of The Help written by Camille

What is your favourite moment in the movie ?

My favourite moment in The Help is when all the helps of the city say to Skeeter that they agree to help her with her book. It’s my favourite moment because it marks a shift for the film, Skeeter, and the helps…This turning point changes the society and the mentalities of black people. Moreover, I find this moment joyful even if the situation and the circumstances are not happy…

What about your least favorite moment then ?

My least favorite moment is when Hilly Holbrook says during a meal with her friends that black people cannot uses the same toilets as the white people. It’s a bad and contemptuous moment and it’s full of segregation against the black people. Here, they are not considered as human beings but as animals. It’s one moment in the film where injustice is particularly pregnant…

Could you tell a passage from the point of view of another character ?

I’ve chosen to tell the moment in the film when Skeeter fights with her mother about boyfriends, the place of women in society and the ambitions of Skeeter. So I’m telling this moment in the first-person…and I let you guess who it is !

“I can’t bear this mother. She irritates me. It’s impossible to be close-minded like that…She doesn’t understand that she isn’t my style. I don’t want to be like her because she is like all the women in Mississippi : she stays at home, she is married to a wealthy man, and she criticizes people and does nothing in her life but that ! I want to do something of my life, that’s why I went away to study and I have a job in journalism : to change the world ! I can’t put up with this varnish and all these overrated things, to fit appearances…Besides, it is for the sole purpose of seducing guys…Guys, another joke of my mom ! I have better things to do in life. And that, she doesn’t understand ! She doesn’t believe me. I wonder if she believes in me, my job, the person I am…This thought disgusts me because it should be an obvious answer and it’s not. I’m still her daughter, though !I’ll go for a walk to think about this situation because now, I’m upset. It will calm me.”

A Movie Review of the Help

Hello, I am a journalist for a newspaper to review movies. Manon B., what is the moment that you most enjoyed? :

My favourite moment in the movie is when Hilly Holbrook believes she’s eating a chocolate cake, when in fact she’s eating the feces of her maid, Minny. Indeed, Hilly is so nasty against the blacks, especially her servants, that when we see her eat and enjoy the cake and then after we see her head when she learns that is the excrement of Hilly, it makes us “happy”. It’s a feeling of revenge…

And is the moment that you like least?:

The moment that I like least is when Aibileen must leave the home in her care. At that moment, she says goodbye to the little girl she "raised" and the scene is very emotional. Indeed, Aibileen is very attached to this little girl, because she has taken care of her ever since she was little. And when Aibileen must leave, the girl does not understand why. Her nanny is forced to lie to her (she says she is retiring, but in reality she’s fired) to preserve her. This is a very moving scene, which made me sad.

Can you describe a scene for us, by imagining you are in the place of a character:

I was standing there like every day. There were many people in the room and they were all four at the table and I did what I had to do: wait on them. As usual, Hilly Holbrook kept talking and pretending to be an extraordinary woman. She wore a white dress with pink flowers and green and with a pink bow in her hair. Of course all her clothes had to be well tuned… All four were talking at the table, but I felt a little uneasiness around them. During the conversation, Skeeter told them she wanted to become a writer and that she’d found a job for the “Jackson Journal”. The other women looked surprised, especially Hilly. Moreover, she reminded them that every white household should have separate toilets for servants. At these words, Skeeter retorted immediately that it was she who deserved to have outside toilets. At this point, the other three women couldn’t believe their eyes and Hilly almost had a heart attack… that’s a shame… For me, on my side behind the wall, I smiled. Finally someone had dared to shut her up.

We noticed that you had put yourself in the place of Aibileen … Thank you for your cooperation

Movie review…

Good afternoon…er… Eddy, is that right ?

Yes indeed, what can I do for you ?

What is your favorite moment in the movie ? Can you explain why ?

There are not many moments which I like in this film but I like the moment when the ex-help of Hilly Holbrook goes to Hilly Holbrook’s home to be forgiven. Minny Jackson has cooked a chocolate pie with her shit in it and Hilly eats two parts of her pie. This scene is very disgusting but it’s very funny when Miss Walters, Hilly’s mum, laughs.

What is your least favorite moment in the movie ? And why ?

I don’t like this film but the moment which I hate the most is when a black man was killed by The Ku Klux Klan and when Aibileen fell the night due to the intolerance of the driver of the bus. Aibileen is very terrified, she runs to her home , she falls…This scene is pathetic.

Could you narrate a passage from the point of view of a character in the movie ?

Sure…”I decided to go to the gala of Charity of Hilly Holbrook for very poor children in Africa to explain to Hilly that I don’t intend to steal her boyfriend, for he is with her. And to be forgiven for the bad joke of chocolate pie but I wasn’t especially reassured about the situation with her ex-maid, Minny Jackson. I got dressed with my new dress, I am sexy and I know it . I’ll show them that I am a respectable girl. I waited for my husband in the car and we went to Hilly’s gala. We arrived there, and .I started to drink one cup of Champagne, two cups, three…I wanted to speak to Hilly but she was with her friends. After another cup of Champagne, I started to explain my point of view to Hilly but she is a bad girl, she didn’t understand. I decided to buy a chocolate pie for Hilly. I am very sorry for your dress Hilly. After another cup of Champagne, I feel like puking…and oh, by the way, someone else bought the chocolate pie, I wonder who…

A movie review of The Help, by Jessica…

My favourite moment ?

My favorite moment in the film is towards the end, when Celia Foote prepares dinner for Minny. At first, she couldn’t cook, but with help from Minny, she improved. I love this moment because Celia is one of the only persons who doesn’t tell the difference between a white person and a person “of color”. Then, once she said “you are my family”, I find it beautiful.

The moment I liked least ?

The moment I like least in the movie is the moment when Elizabteh dismisses Aibileen by Hilly’s fault. I don’t like this moment because when Aibi leaves from home, we see Mae Mobley crying, saying “No, Aibi, don’t go !”. I think this is one of the moments that make me cry the most. I find it unfair that a girl of that age has to go through this, knowing she doesn’t understand the reasons why Aibi was fired. It was like when she said at one moment : “You are my real mom, Aibi”.

Final scene when Elizabeth makes Aibileen leave. Perspective Mae Mobley

“-No, Aibi, don’t go !” But why is she going ? Why is she leaving me alone here ? I didn’t do anything wrong, I don’t understand ! Why does Aibi leave without me …? But I was nice to her, I have never disobeyed her ! Why does my black mom leave, why is my other mom no longer mine ? I’m alone now, who will be able to look after me ?”

I think Mae Mobley can’t understand the misunderstanding between her mother and Aibi is due to the latter’s skin color. For Mae, Aibi is her real mom whatever happens ! Mae is a little girl so she doesn’t understand that the reason for the departure of Aibi is in fact racism. At this age, skin color doesn’t matter, and I also think that in this last scene, the situation is very beautiful, because a little white girl cries for a black woman. In this scene, she must surely believe that it’s her fault if Aibi is leaving, or at least she won’t understand the reasons until she is much older…

I chose to take the perspective of Mae Mobley, because it’s a point of view of purity and innocence…

Movie Review by Irving…

One passage narrated from the point of view of a character…

Working for Mrs Foote is a gift compared to the horrible Holbrook. She's always nice and happy, it's such a pleasure to see that joy, that health. I teach her how to cook wonderfully for her husband. She really needs my help to maintain their great house, but I'm not sure that it's safe for me to do that. She didn't say anything about me to Mister Foote, and I'm scared that if he sees me some day, he will be angrier at me than Hilly. When I remember my time with her, it pisses me off. I don't even know how I could bear that. I know that all the black maids are in the same situation as me, but seriously, Hilly is the worst woman in Jackson, maybe even in the entire world. And of course, all of her friends are like her. I don't have any regrets for leaving her and going with Celia. She deserves much better. Plus, she cooks waffles perfectly.

Narration of a particularly striking moment from the point of view of a character in the scene…

After my dismissal, I thought of Hilly Holbrook as a little pretentious bourgeois who had only one glance for the maid : She considers us as a « race » that is only useful to be reduced to slavery and raise her children in good manners. I was ashamed to go home and tell my husband that I didn't work anymore, right…He came home from work and when he heard the news, went into a monstrous rage. I slept right after the children went to bed but my husband beat me. It's hard to live when you know that I have children to feed and I can not leave my husband for lack of money !! So after a few days, I had still not worked, I chose to fight back the reputation that Hilly had made me in the city. So I made her a cake to apologize. When she ate it, her mother came to see us and wanted to taste the cake, which I refused. After a few slices eaten , Hilly said it was delicious! So I sent my confession that she was eating my excrement. Her mother had a considerable laughter. Hilly ran to the toilet... I left happy with this successful revenge !! Hilly was ashamed of this vengeance and never spoke to anyone about it…

By NINE

The Help, a review by Adrien

What's my favorite moment in the movie?

It is when Miss Skeeter was called in the home of Aibileen, a black maid, and she discovered that all the black servants had gathered to help her to write their stories…Then they all told their stories and I loved this moment because it was full of joys, emotions, common sense and it touched me because the characters are all interdependent.

The moment that I liked least ?

Well, this is when Miss Hilly placed Miss Walters, who is her mom, in a nursing home just because she laughed when Miss Hilly ate the pie sabotaged by Minny, her former black maid…Minny had put her “poop” in the pie and had made Miss Hilly eat it. But because Miss Walters laughed at her daughter, Miss Hilly placed her mother in a home. That moment was the worst for me because it was cruel to her own mother and Hilly was indeed pitiless…

Introspection…

“I was really shocked by what Miss Hilly said at a lunch at Elizabeth’s. They were all sitting around a table at the pool, and Miss hilly asked me if I liked the toilets that Elizabeth had built to separate blacks and whites. She took us for animals by setting these toilets so we wouldn’t dirty her own. Hilly said “it was nice to have a place at home”, but it’s only toilets, and in addition, it’s to show that black maids aren’t considered good enough to use the bathrooms of white people…I couldn’t answer with “Yes, M’am”, or I would probably have been dismissed and after that, I wouldn’t earn money to live. So I had to bear all they make us suffer. To remind us that we aren’t in the “same world”, Miss Hilly added “Separate but equal”. At that time, Eugenia Skeeter protected us and contradicted Miss Hilly and I was very pleased, because she is the only one who treats us as her equal. When I think of Miss Hilly, I say to myself we need something done to no longer endure this, because it’s not fair… All the domestics and I are treated like animals, but we must do something if we want to live. Things must change !”

The Help, a review by O

What's my favorite moment in the movie?

My favorite moment is at the end. We see Hilly who arrives at Charlotte Phelan's to tell her what she thinks about Skeeter's book. Contrary to what Skeeter expected, her mother was proud of her daughter and understood that Hilly was a scornful person. In my opinion, it's an interesting passage in the movie because one more time, it can represent the change of some people after thinking.

What's my least favorite moment?

My least favorite moment is when Minny is on the phone with her best friend, Aibileen. During their conversation, they speak about the dismissal of Minny, at Hilly's. Well, it's not a good piece of news for her because she hasn't got money and her husband will fight her. It's a sad moment because we see the violence of husbands to their wives. Moreover, it symbolizes the obedience that women had to their husbands.

Could I tell one particular moment of the movie from the viewpoint of a character ?

When Miss Skeeter told me her plan, I didn't understand. I remember I thought she was crazy to imagine writing a book which denounces our conditions as maids. When she entered the kitchen, she was smiling and I wondered why because I would never have realized that she'd speak with me. At the beginning, she told me she wanted my help to write a paper about the housework because she'd never written about that before. But after, she changed her opinion and preferred to create an article about the living and working conditions of black maids. I was really surprised to hear that because never in my life someone had asked me to speak about my job. Moreover, I was scared : to criticize isn't a right I have as a maid. The only thing I can do is work if I want to receive my money. On the one hand, I didn't want to help Skeeter, I could be beaten if we learned that I had taken part in this action. But on the other hand, to testify about my problems and those of others, that could improve our lives… maybe. It could be our solution but I should be quiet, so nobody would know that. After that, I made a decision. To live like that was no longer possible, and to try to change the mentalities was necessary : it was my duty.

Movie review of The HelpBy Benjamin

My favourite scene in the movie is when the garden of Hilly Holbrook is filled with many toilets with the signs : “lawn of the year”. In this moment, it's already very funny but when we see Mae Mobley who is sitting on one of these toilets, the sense of comedy is stressed.It's a « small vengeance » to show the wickedness of the character victim of the joke of Skeeter.

For me, the worst moment is when the city of Jackson is victim of a storm. Hilly Hollbrook doesn't want her help to go to the toilet for white people just because it would seem that the blacks don't have the same diseases as the whites…This scene shows how blacks were treated by white people who were considered « superior ».

A specific moment told by one character….

For me, when Mrs Charlotte Phelan dismissed me, it was as if all my life was finished. All my life, I had spent in the service of this family, that I loved and I love, and who loved me. Mrs Phelan, who was going to die, just dismissed me to be a member of one of these clubs. So, I don't bear a grudge against her. It is a kind of tradition for the rich whites. And all this under the eyes of my daughter who had came to see me … I hope not to have disappointed her, not too much …My only regret is not to have seen Skeeter before leaving the house. She was a girl who was far from the tradition of her time, she was unlike her family.The old members of Charlotte's club looked at me as if I was a monster. The only one who seemed sad, Charlotte announced me that I had to leave. I made fun of all these women who are low human beings. I wonder what Mrs Phelan said to Skeeter. I would like to know what she feels when she thinks of me. I see that a book was published on the black helps.I'm sure that she wrote it. Only a woman like her could write all this story.To finish, it is no more so bad for me…My daughter Rachel takes care of me.I do not need to work anymore.I just ask God for a better future.

Movie Review of the Help By Laurine

Well, my favorite moment of the movie :

My favorite moment is the funniest episode of the movie ! When Minny, one of the important maids, gives a pie to Hilly Holbrook, and it's not a chocolate cake ! It 's so funny because it's a big surprise. We can't imagine that the help can do this. When she repeats the sentence « You eat my shit » three times, slowly, we can't help laughing.

My least favorite moment of the movie :

In my opinion, the saddest moment of the movie is the scene when the poor maid Constantine is expelled from Skeeter's house. Charlotte is a coward in front of her friends. When Rachel looks at the mother from behind the doors, and after with the reaction of Skeeter, it's horrible. We want to cry. It's really my least favorite moment in the movie !

And now, let’s narrate an episode from one character’s point of view !

« Today, I asked Mrs Holbrook to lend me some money. I absolutely need this for my boys ! Take heart girls ! ». Ten seconds later, I put the plate on the table, and the words « Excuse me M'am »came out of my mouth. I was frightened but I had to ask for my children. Mr Holbrook was the first to react : he decided to flee, arguing he was late. He left the table and the room quickly. Now, I was alone with Madame. I pointed out that I'd work to pay back soon. She seemed to agree with me, she smiled and didn't say bad words. So I thanked her, but this woman is mischievous and she ended up refusing my proposal on the pretence of God and religion. It seemed too good to be true !

Hilly Holbrook refused to help me two days ago. I was now doing the housework, and behind the sofa, I found a ring. It was the opportunity of my life. My boys would be students ! Discreetly, I took the jewel and put it in my pocket …

But, it was a trap … I think that, I'm now far from there. My children will not be able to study anymore. Policemen were waiting for me at the bus stop. I must escape, Aibi was screaming my name, it's the end ...

Movie Review :The Help

My favorite moment in the movie «  The Help » is when we see that the book of Skeeter was published. This book contains all the stories of the maids of Jackson in Mississippi. Many people have the book. For example, when Aibileen and Minny go to the supermarket, they see women reading the book and smiling. Or for instance in prison, women read the book too. It's a relief for them and they can feel proud and successful.This passage shows that Skeeter was successful in denouncing racial segregation. This is so good and we feel empathy with them at this moment ! :)

My least favorite moment in the movie is when Aibileen in forced to leave Elizabeth Leefolt's house, she must leave Elizabeth’s daughter too. Yet, she had raised this girl, she had loved her.This moment is very sad and very moving because the daughter is crying as if she were abandoned and Aibileen couldn't return.It's the saddest moment and it really touched me.

A moment of the movie as seen by…At the moment when Elizabeth Leefolt asked me to leave her house after a theft that I hadn't committed, I didn't think of Elizabeth's daughter any more. Indeed, three seconds later, I met Eliz's look and I felt like a dagger in my heart.I was very bad, I felt like crying but I wouldn't do that in front of the girl. Then I took the road to come home. I was in the path of M.Leefolt and the girl was behind her window. I stopped because I heard stronger cries.All except that. And yet she had the impression that I'd given her up. If I could have, I would have taken her with me. I'm the one who raised her. She was like my daughter.I really felt destroyed. I couldn't stop her cries. My heart cried : «  Stop, go back and tell her something ! » . But reason prevented me. I had to get away. I would have preferred to die at this moment rather than to suffer so much.

by Ophélie.

Movie review of…The Help

The instant I preferred in the film « The Help » is the instant when Minny said to Hilly that she was eating her excrements.In fact, it made me laugh, because this dirty trick led by Minny expresses her desire of revenge well in tune with everything she endured.Besides, this story was going to be published in the book of Skeeter and some people were going to acknowledge that the victim of this dirty trick was Hilly.

The instant which I least liked, is the instant when Aibileen must leave the home of the Leefolts as a result of a suspicion of theft of a silver fork. In fact, this instant dissatisfied me and it's full of emotion, because Aibileen hasn't made any mistake in her job, and they see the baby bursting into tears and shouting in front of Aibileen's forced departure.This instant affected me, in fact the misery of the baby, who considered Aibileen as her mother touched me in my heart. I find the reason of all this completely unfair misfortune.

Introspection…The atmosphere in the residence of the Leefolts was very cold. I did my household chores tasks like everything, in due time, when I was called out by Elizabeth. I came to this meeting in the living room and as caught by fate, miss Leefolt accused me of stealing from her silverware.I could do nothing. I retorted, she interrupted me and accused me once again. I'm not stupid so as to steal from her ! And then also to steal in the Christian religion is a serious sin. Finally, in brief , I was accused without having the opportunity to defend myself. Elizabeth decided to fire me without any scruples. On many moments, we the blacks are objects for the persons like her. I listened to these words but the baby was asking me . I wanted to help her but Elizabeth refused. She said to me that I'm not her mother, that it wasn't my role to do this any more. I had to leave their home. It tore me the heart to leave the baby that I considered as my daughter, that I had raised as my daughter.Our gazes crossed when I was in the path of M.Leefolt and she was behind the windows. This instant will remain engraved in my memory for ever. by Jean Charles.

Movie review of…The Help

My favourite scene is when Minny came to Hilly’s house to apologise. She came with a chocolate cake and Hilly loved this cake. After that, we discover that it is a “pooh” cake. I like this scene because it’s very funny. This scene is good in this film because it is almost the only funny moment.

My least favourite moment in the movie is a scene of bridge. All of Hilly’s friends play bridge in the living room in Hilly’s house… Celia Foote arrives at Hilly’s. Hilly asks her friends to hide. It’s sad for Celia because she’s nice and she doesn’t deserve this.

I’ve chosen to explain the scene with the poo pie. I want to relate the point view of Hilly’s mother.Minny came with a chocolate cake to apologize because she used the some toilet as us, and Hilly fired her... I was surprised. I didn’t think, that she would come back. She gave us a chocolate cake, it was very nice. I liked Minny because she is very nice. Hilly cut two or three slices of cake. I thought it was one for me and one for her but Minny didn’t want me to have any cake, she said “it’s only for Hilly”. So, Hilly ate the two pieces. I saw Minny laugh. I wondered why my daughter liked the cake very much. She asked Minny what it contained and Minny, still laughing answered : “There is a secret ingredient, you have never tasted”. My daughter insisted Minny said “Eat my shit !” and I said “you ate two pieces !”. She threw out outside her house. I have laughed much !

By Thomas

My Review of The Help by L.R.

My favorite moment in the movie is when Minny gives her pie to Hilly. I laughed because Hilly eats this pie with appetite. Minny cooked her pie with her “shit” because Hilly fired her. Indeed, Minny went to the toilet of the house because there was a storm outdoors but she had no right to do so.That's why her pie perfectly fits the situation…

My least favorite moment in the movie is when Aibileen is dismissed because this is an unfair decision.Indeed it's not Elizabeth who does that but Hilly, to take her revenge. She uses the pretext of a theft to justify her act.I was sad when Mae Mobly cried because Aibileen is the only person who takes care of Mae Mobly with their favorite sentence where they say : “Mae Mobly is nice, smart and important.”

Part of the plot from the point of view of a character in the movie…

My daughter can be extremely nice but she can be bad when she wants. I don't understand why she is also contemptuous with the helps. We did not educate her like that …But Minny made her realize that the maids aren't just nice and docile dogs. The pie of Minny remains in my memory … I'll never forget it … It was funny.She took a slice of pie ! And she said it was good !When Minny said that was her “shit”, Hilly became white like an aspirin and she went to the toilet to vomit.I watched Minny, she looked happy and satisfied but I think she regrets because she left quickly.Hilly keeps this secret because she is ashamed. She, “The queen of the women's community of Jackson” trapped by her maid, a black person … That can destroy her reputation !Minny has made a great job with this vengeance because now she has a means of pressure. But she should be discreet in the future because when Hilly retaliates in turn, that will be terrible ...

A Movie Review of The Help, by Cassandra.

My favourite moment in The Help is when Minny returns to Hilly's house to apologize and she gives her a « chocolate cake » to be forgiven. For me, it's the best moment in this movie because in fact the cake was not chocolate. So there was a reversal of values because for the first time it's a boss who is ridiculed by her maid. Moreover, Hilly's mum made fun of her so it was very entertaining.

My least favourite moment in the movie is when Skeeter's mum fired Constantine during an important dinner because her daughter dared enter in the living room through the front door and disturb the dinner. I found this moment so sad and unfair. Constantine was an excellent maid and if she was fired, it's just because Charlotte preferred to obey her guests rather listening to her heart.

Introspection…Today I have decided not to let people walk all over me anymore I'm over with obeying orders and bowing to Hilly. I found an idea to get my revenge. She didn't want me to use her toilet? Well, it doesn't matter. I will use something else. As I have said to you, I have a plan, I just need to find the courage to do it. Hilly is someone scornful. I love her mum but she is a

real pest. I remember that she loved my chocolate cakes. It's there that the word « chocolate » is important. I’d never thought that a cake could help me one day but today, this is the case. So rather than use her toilet, I'll use my recipe for cakes and my oven. But I will replace chocolate with a special ingredient. I hope you know what I mean…Now my cake is ready to be eaten and I'm waiting for Hilly to come open the door to me. I'm anxious about seeing how it turns out... After entering the house, I gave the present to Hilly. She was so proud that I apologized that she immediately tasted the cake. She loved it so much she took another slice. As for me, what I loved in this moment, was to see her move toward her precious toilet when she knew that it was not chocolate in the cake. After that and under the advice of her mother, I quickly returned home for fear of reprisals.

My Review of The Help by Amélie

I love the moment when Minny goes to Hilly’s house, with a chocolate cake. The latter has fired Minny. She thinks that Minny wants to apologize for her actions. However, she will quickly realize that it was not that. When Hilly eats the cake, she finds that it is very good. Then, Hilly’s mother wants to eat a slice too. But Minny refuses. So Hilly asks why. Therefore, Minny says : “You’re eating my shit”. Everyone bursts out laughing. It is a very good revenge for Minny. I can say that it is my favourite moment because after everything Minny has suffered, she is finally avenged. Hilly feels « silly ». She’s defeated.

The moment that I have loved the least and that has made me sad is when Hilly fired Aibileen for the only reason that Hilly has discovered the book Skeeter has published on Jackson. She is unhappy and attacks Aibileen. So, when Aibileen leaves the house, Mae is in her room and cries. She doesn’t want Aibileen to leave. We can read in Aibileen’s eyes that she is miserable to leave this small girl. The moment is very moving, because despite the fact the servants are abused ( psychologically), they focus all the same on the children they care for at that moment.

Introspection…

My name is Minny. I am a black woman and I am in the service of white women. When Skeeter suggested speaking about me in the book that she is writing on Jackson concerning the everyday life of the women of our race, at the beginning, I didn’t want to be interviewed. I was too afraid of having reprisals with Hilly, if ever she discovered I was testifying. But, I said to myself, if I don’t testify I would be a coward, and our hardships would never finish. I said to myself : “take your fate into your hands Minny !” This book could change opinions and I accepted to see Skeeter. She asked me about my life, about what I had undergone, if I suffered living all these stories, it did us good to speak about it. I was satisfied to be finally able to speak, to know that all these people were finally going to open their eyes on what we lived.

My Review of The Help by S :

What is your favourite moment in the movie? Could you explain why?

I think my favourite moment in the movie is when Minny tells about the stuffing with the “chocolate” cake. The maid confesses this story to Skeeter and Aibileen. Both girls believe that Minny has made a big foolish thing. Indeed: she gives a cake to apologize, normally made of chocolate, but in reality, this is her excrement. This scene is particularly funny, because we see Hilly Holbrook, a haughty and scornful woman, feast on the cake, she licks her lips and proposes a slice to her mother; but Minny forbids her to take it. From the moment she says the truth, her ex-employer is sickened and shocked to hear that. The mother roars with laughter whereas her daughter runs away to vomit. It’s inevitable to laugh, especially while the mother recalls that Hilly has taken two slices of cake!

What is your least favourite moment in the movie? Why?

My least favourite moment in the movie is when Minny, Hilly’s maid, wants to go to the toilets. During this era, segregation and racism were very present; that’s why the black population, poorer, were separated from the white middle-class. They were just considered like maids or house domestics. Obviously, black people had to use other facilities. Indeed, in this scene, it’s at night. Minny wanted to go to the toilets, but hers are outside, and a storm was rumbling. Hilly’ mother suggests Minny to stay in the house although the employer is against. Discreetly, the maid goes in the house’s toilets. Nevertheless Hilly follows her, and at the last moment prevents her from using her toilets. The scene triggers indignation and underlines the rejection of others. Injustice!

Let’s narrate the bridge playing afternoons from Skeeter’s point of view.

After my return at home, I had the bright idea of playing my school-friends a visit, but it wasn’t a good idea... I came at Hilly’s home for the daily bridge playing. Then, I decided to play with everybody, and particularly, with my nice and long-standing friends, Hilly, Elisabeth and some others... (It’s ironical, of course) They were very beautiful with their wonderful brushings and their close-fitting dresses. I know that is my world, but now I see my circle differently: I find this outfit and the good manners ridiculous! Although, it’s in their education, and although the ruling classes impose this; it’s not tolerable in comparison to the living conditions of the maids.

For example, Aibileen, a very nice and helpful person. As a poor maid, she has come across the worst girls of the district! It’s incredible as they neglect her. She must answer all their whims, be always available to cook, to clean, to tidy up, to take care of children... It’s hard! I saw them in the workplace.Hilly required Elizabeth to build toilets for the maid in the garden, in other words so that she may not use the same as the owners, in front of Aibileen! She held unpleasant and discriminatory comments. Everybody agreed with her, I am the only one who stood up to her and who contradicted her nonsense. That revolted me. I strongly denounce racism!!

The review of The help by Ludivine.F

● My favorite moment in The Help is when Minny returns to Hilly to «say sorry » because revenge will be the real purpose of the visit.The laughter had filled the cinema when Minny looked Hilly with a determined look and said « eat my shit », I laughed a lot because I didn't expect this cue.But the funniest was the head made by Hilly when she understood that Minny had added this secret ingredient to her delicious cake.

● The moment that I disliked particularly was the dismissal of Aibileen. Hilly, who thought that Aibileen was the anonymous writer of the novel decides to convince Elizabeth that she's a thief and a liar. It was dishonest on her part and bad. Moreover, Mae cries when she learns that Aibileen, the one who raised her, will leave her and she tries in vain to keep her at her side. This time I was very moved, it was sad to see Aibileen have to abandon the girl while she was innocent. Last but not least, she loved Mae Mobley like her own mother would, or should !

● My name is Aibileen, I'm the servant of Mrs. Leefolt and today, once again, I was humiliated...As often, this afternoon, Madame invited some women of the city of Jackson to play Bridge but also to share all the neighborhood gossips. Skeeter, the daughter of Mrs. Phelan, was late today. This is surely the only one, among them, who is nice, she doesn't criticize, doesn't judge and remains simple. Unlike the others, she considers me a complete woman. When Hilly (the horrible woman with brown hair), Madame (who is still unable to raise her own daughter), Skeeter and their friend started to play, Hilly said she thought that all the houses of white people should have separate toilets for servants.Coming from this selfish and dishonest woman, it isn't even surprising but to hear it made me much harm. I felt suddenly, useless to everyone and I felt like all the other black and I felt I was not equal to white people. But Skeeter looked all surprised and replied that it might be wiser to build one for her. To hear her defend us, black people, made me very satisfied. I know she likes me and that is reciprocal but everyone knows that white women can't be friends with a black maid. Looking into the room, I almost became jealous of all these white women who smiled, who were capped, well- dressed and spoke better than me.

My name is Aibileen, today I was once again humiliated...but it will surely change.

My movie review of the film The Help, by Urbain :

My favorite scene is when Minny made a pie to « win Hilly’s forgiveness » but Minny doesn’t like Hilly because she fired her and so she put her “shit” in her pie ! And it was so funny to see the face of the graceful Hilly becoming disgusted. And Hilly’s mother who added her daughter had eaten two quarters of this pie! I love this scene because I’d understood from the beginning that she would put her “shit” in the pie!

My least favorite scene is when a help was caught by the police in the yellow bus. The poor help is accused of theft because some days before she found the ring of her employer when she was cleaning the house. I’ve found this scene too violent in this film which is involved but funny; it doesn’t go well with the other scenes.

Now let’s consider Hilly’s mother explains when Minny comes by her to give a pie to Hilly.

Someone rang the bell when I was drinking my tea. I was very surprised when I saw Minny, Hilly fired her last week and she came here with a pie!

I stayed on my chair as she entered the living room, Hilly didn’t understand the coming of her ex-help. Minny had a pie in her hands, she presented it to Hilly and said that she wanted to try to win her forgiveness. My daughter accepted the pie and put it on the table, Minny wished Hilly to taste it and see if it was good. Hilly cut two slices, one for me and one for her but Minny intervened, “this is a cake just for Hilly!” there was something wrong! For sure! So, my daughter ate the two slices. Then she asked Minny which ingredient composed the pie. I saw Minny who was smiling, I began to understand… She said there was a secret ingredient! Minny had been fired because she’d used Hilly’s toilet, there was something which was dirty in this pie! I didn’t trust her chocolate!

Few seconds after my thought, Minny said, proud of herself, that Hilly had eaten her “shit”!!!

As I was laughing, Hilly tried to find something to say but nothing: she was so ashamed! I added that she’d eaten two slices of this pie, finally Hilly didn’t hate the help’s shit as much as she pretended!!

A movie review of The Help by Guillaume

You’re wondering about my favorite moment in the movie ?…Well, …

Well, my favorite moment in the movie is when we see Minny coming back to Mrs Hilly Holbrook’s to apologize. She arrives with a chocolate with a special ingredient : her “shit”. This scene represents the revolt of the back servants. This revenge against Hilly Holbrook and their bad ideas : it is the turning point of the story. It's a real landmark against segregation and

the separation of toilets.

My least favorite moment in the movie ?

My least favorite moment in the movie is when Aibileen goes into the toilets built for the black domestic. This scene is the symbol of segregation in the United States between blacks and whites because of their skin color. We could find that racial segregation in many states or districts, for example Harlem in New York.. This scene takes place before the eyes of Mae Mobley.

The Helpby Marion

. My favourite moment in the movie

My favourite moment in the movie is the final scene when Aibileen leaves Elizabeth Leefolt’s home after her unjustified dismissal. Indeed, this scene is the one when Aibileen finally acquires her freedom. She dares for the first time in the movie to overcome the terror Holly Holbrook fills her with, by facing her verbally. This right to speak which she claims (she also faces Elizabeth Leefolt about the education of her daughter, Mae Mobley) frees her from the silence which the American society of the time imposed her as a black woman and a maid. Aibileen is thus a liberated woman when she leaves Elizabeth Leefolt’s home and this idea of freedom is symbolized by the passage from a closed place (Elizabeth’s home) to an opened place (Jackson’s verdant streets) and by Aibileen’s desire to become a writer.

. My least favourite moment in the movie

My least favourite moment in the movie is the scene of the charity party where Celia Foote is ridiculous. I find that this scene caricatures this character by underlining only her scatterbrained, sexy and festive side (Celia is wearing a figure-hugging and red dress which is very low-necked, and she drinks numerous glasses of champagne), masking totally her human and affectionate side. Indeed, Celia is the only character belonging to the high society of Jackson who doesn’t practise racial segregation : she has privileged relationship with Minny because she considers that her black maid is her equal.

.Bridge game by Aibileen’s point of view

I knew that Mrs Holbrook despised us, us, the black maids because we didn’t belong to the upper class like her and we didn’t have the same skin colour. But when I heard her, during the bridge game, propose the installation of specific toilets for the maids, I understood that this woman was not only contemptuous but also unfeeling. How could she think that we were humanly so different from her and from the society which she represents ? How could she dare to say that we were, because of our skin colour, carriers of diseases and dangerous for them and for their children ? Did she not realize that I was, like her, a woman and a mother ? I couldn’t say how much this project of separated toilet revolted me and saddened me deeply. I understood that day that I was unquestionably different from Mrs Holbrook : I was human and she wasn’t ! Fortunately, Eugenia Phelan, the only friend of Mrs Holbrook who didn’t share her opinion, replied her: “Maybe we should just build you a bathroom outside, Hilly”. In this way, she was only saying aloud what I was thinking.

The end