Oprah's Movie "Beloved"
 

So I'm in this Black Studies course and my assignment for a project was to pick out a movie, watch it, and answer some questions about it.

So I remembered that Oprah did Beloved and thought, how bad can it be? Well I'm still out on that verdict.

The movie is freaking nutts! It's like 3 hours long, it skips around, I had a hard time following what was happening at times...etc. I thought it was interesting, and a good portrayal of what it was like to be a slave...but the rest of the story line didn't really serve an educational purpose (a dead daughter coming back in the form of a Jezebell?!?!?!).

Has anyone else seen this movie, or read the book? I had some questions that I wasn't clear on:

1) The old lady that preached on the stump - who is that in relation to Sethe? Is she just a preacher or was she the mother-in-law?

2) When the "teacher" comes and Sethe takes the children into the barn to kill them, how is it they would be able to take her children? I thought Ohio was a free state....unless this was around the time when you could go into the North to get runaways - but even then, why didn't they take Sethe back with them?

3) What was the significance of Beloved being with child? I was talking with a co-worker and we couldn't figure out the meaning or symbolism.

4) I think I understood the significance of the "tree" lashings on Sethe's back - but just to clarify, was that because she'd told her mama she wanted a marking and her mama said no she didn't, and then her mama was lynched from a tree?

Thanks!

I saw the movie, but I can't really help you......I didn't get it.

Same here, Phrat. It was a little too deep for me. . .

Is it too late to find another movie? :confused:

That's what I was thinking as well, Soror!

That's why some books just shouldn't become movies. That is an EXCELLENT book.

It is NOT Oprah's Beloved. It is TONI MORRISON'S creation. I haven't seen the film so I couldn't explain it without knowing how you guys saw it.

Read the book. Trust me.

I don't have time to read the book. We were told to rent the movie. And I understand it's not Oprah's Beloved...but I wanted to catch people's attention instead of just titling the thread Beloved.

I wish I did have time to read the book. But still, if someone has read the book, the questions I asked that happened in the movie should STILL be relevant :)

Not trying to start a fight, but that's not necessarily true. You know that many times, directors take (what's the term?) "creative liberties" (or something like that) to change things around.

I really hope you find somebody that can explain this all to you. I'd also do a search elsewhere on the 'net to see if it can be broken down to you a little more.

And Soror lovelyivy, I might hafta take you up on your suggestion and read the book! I love to read.

Exactly! I don't know anything from the book was cut for the sake of time, or what might have made it in or not. So I would give you book information that wasn't true for the movie, and would be wrong in this context.

I read the book, twice because some parts weren't clear the first time. I am headed to work this afternoon, if I see any Cliff's Notes or anything I will look for those things you mention and send them your way Hootie.

If you had time to get another movie I am a fan of "The Color Purple". But in general I am a bookwhore and rarely see movies made from books. I am a freak like that.

Thank You! I'd appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to read Beloved last semester for class and it really was a good book. Luckily we discussed the book in class so I was able to understand it a lot better. Unfortunatly, I threw away all of my notes after the final. Sorry.

Re: Oprah's Movie "Beloved"
 

Ahhh yes my Women in Lit. class last semester. Not a dry eye in the house when the class, about 15 girls and our prof (also a female) watched the movie. I'll do my best to answer your ?s!

1) The old lady that preached on the stump - who is that in relation to Sethe? Is she just a preacher or was she the mother-in-law
As far as I can remember she was just a woman who had a place for them to come to after they escaped the plantation (sweet home) and "teacher" (the slavemaster). She could be Sethe's mother-in-law but I'm not 100% sure.


2) When the "teacher" comes and Sethe takes the children into the barn to kill them, how is it they would be able to take her children? I thought Ohio was a free state....unless this was around the time when you could go into the North to get runaways - but even then, why didn't they take Sethe back with them?
I think bc they escaped it doesn't matter if Ohio is a free state or not. I think Sethe did think 'teacher' would take them back to the plantation which is why she tried to kill them all.


3) What was the significance of Beloved being with child? I was talking with a co-worker and we couldn't figure out the meaning or symbolism.

Not too sure here. But Sethe was with child when they first escaped. Perhaps Beloved is with child to make she and Sethe have more in common and put more distance btwn her and the daughter.


4) I think I understood the significance of the "tree" lashings on Sethe's back - but just to clarify, was that because she'd told her mama she wanted a marking and her mama said no she didn't, and then her mama was lynched from a tree?

A tree typically represents life I think, tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Bible, but to the slaves it was as you said a source of death via hangings, lynchings etc. I think you're right about it also showing for Sethe her mama's death as well as the beatings she endured. Milk and blood were two other big symbols in the story.

Woa...what a difficult book, and in more ways than one. Check out the sparknotes for the book...sparknotes
they were helpful to me. Btwn this course, and three other reading intensive lit. classes, I read over 40 novels, plays and short stories. So much for an easy Spring semester of Senior year! Spark notes were my best friend!! Good luck on your paper!

I read this book (twice - I own it) and made the mistake of seeing the movie. Me personally, if you haven't read teh book, the movie will leave you like " HUH" :confused: "WHAT?

I'll check my book at home for the parts that you've referenced and will report back.

The movie reall sucked. Too much to think about and kind of mormid. As for the book it was a jumbled mess to understand. :confused: ::STILL CONFUSED::

I remember seeing an Oprah episode where she was discussing it and had some of the cast in it, probably around the time of the release I suppose.
I know it didn't do particularly well at the box office, I remember a review saying the story was harrowing and commented who goes to a cinema wanting to be 'harrowed'?