STEEL MAGNOLIAS

US, 2012, 100 minutes, Colour.
Queen Latifa, Alfre Woodard, Phylica Rashad, Jill Scott, Condola Rashad, Adepero Oduye,Tory Skittles.
Directed by Kenny Leon.

Steel Magnolias was a very successful film of 1989, featuring up star cast led by Sally Field, Shirley Mac Laine and Dolly Parton. It was also an early film for Julia Roberts. It was based on the played by Robert Harling.

The film has been shaped for television, and for an African- American cast. Queen Latifah takes the place of Sally Field. Alfre Woodard takes the place of Shirley Mac Laine. Phylicia Rashad takes the place of Olympia Dukakis. Condola Rashad is in the Julia Roberts role. Jill Scott is Truvy, the hairdresser. The film virtually follows the original, using the same names for the characters. It is interesting that the similarities and differences between the film and this television version.

The sum of the dialogue goes too quickly, not enough pauses to highlight the irony of some of the sayings, especially those of Clairee and Ouisa. Direction is by Kenny Leon who made the remake of A Raisin in the Sun.
This is a film about human nature, the living of ordinary life, but focusing on birth, marriage and death.

1. The original, popular in 1989? The remake? The updating?

2. An African- American version? The similarities to the original and to the play? Differences?

3. The American south, communities and families, the black community?

4. The play, its adaptation for the screen, adaptation for television, its scope, similar but narrower?

5. The strong cast of African- American actors?

6. The locations, the town, the hairdressers’ salon, the musical score?

7. The title, the women, their interactions? Their collaboration on special occasions: the wedding, the birth, Shelby’s death? Support and strength?

8. Queen Latifah as the mother, an earth mother, her concerns, love for her husband, his being in the background, shooting the blackbirds? Her love for Shelby, her care, Shelby’s health, the diabetes? Concern about Shelby’s fiancé, sizing him up? Shelby’s wish for a pregnancy? The risk to her health? The mother’s attitudes, being tested, the support of her friends and talking with them?

9. Shelby, her age, her health, the diabetes, and her sudden turns, her talk and behaviour, her apologies? Her love for Jack, talking with him? Love, the courtship? The wedding ceremony, the celebration and reception, going back home, telling her mother about her pregnancy, her wanting the child, the build-up to the birth sequence? Her love for her baby? Her collapse, her death, turning off the machines? The impact of her death?

10. Ouisa, cranky, bad mood for 40 years, her witty remarks? Cantankerous, taking offense, at the shop, at the church, her fancying the white choir member, the bonds? Tough…?

11. Truvy, a cheery, her lazy husband, doing the hair, Shelby stern and her concern?

12. Clairee, her status, widow, gossip, compassionate?

13. Annelle, young, her arrival, her ability to cut hair, her situation, the marriage, her husband and his behaviour? Pleading, doing the hair, becoming part of the group, friends, the invitation to the reception, the waiter and his attentions, her getting religion, her speaking to M’lynn, trying to comfort her? Reactions?

14. The men, their not being the focus, in the background, support, husbands, Jack and his coping, with his son, the waiter?

15. The strong dialogue, especially in the hairdresser’s salon, coming from the play?

16. The blend of sadness, humor, laughter?

17. Focusing on the key episodes: birth, marriage, death?