Oprah Winfrey Says New ‘The Color Purple’ Remake Is A ‘Cultivating Lifetime Moment’
Prah Winfrey says reinterpreting The Color Purple in 2023 is “one of the highlights” of her life.
The award-winning US talk show host said the classic story was “a huge part of our culture” and the cast and crew knew they were embarking on a project of “immeasurable” importance.
The film, slated for release in US theaters on Christmas Day, is a reimagining of Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name.
It depicts the coming of age and self-actualization of Celie, a young African American girl who overcomes oppression and abuse to find fulfillment and independence.
Winfrey starred opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover in an earlier version of The Color Purple in 1985, directed by Steven Spielberg.
The film was nominated for 11 Oscar nominations but failed to win a single one – tying the record set by 1977’s The Turning Point for most Oscar nominations without a single win.
The 2023 reimagining is directed by Blitz Bazawule and stars Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks and Taraji P Henson.
Winfrey and Spielberg will serve as producers alongside Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.
“One of the things that moved me is that from day one of shooting…I think everyone, especially the cast and crew, understood that we were venturing into something that was immeasurable in terms of its soulful connection with the audience is.” Winfrey said in a question-and-answer session on Monday.
You’re literally working with stuff that people care about because you know the code purple is a big part of our culture. Even today, families come together and watch The Color Purple, although anyone could recite each line
“You’re literally working with stuff that’s important to people and you know it’s a big part of our culture.
“To this day, families still gather and watch The Color Purple, even though anyone could recite every line.
“So I think the energy, the kind of vibratory frequency that shows — the kind of soulfulness, heart, dedication and commitment that comes from knowing you’re working on something special — in the joy of the film to expression comes.”
She continued, “We knew we had something meaningful and important and a valuable offer — I see this film as an offer.”
“I hope it’s as well received as we certainly intend, because it’s as…intended as it was from the heart to do something that really matters in people’s lives.”
“Seeing it projected like this is one of the highlights of my life.”
Winfrey praised Bazawule and his “bold vision” for the project.
“It’s a classic, it’s iconic, and it’s quite incredible to go in with the boldness of the vision that Blitz had with this film and create this magically crafted version where we actually get inside Celie’s head — that is pretty incredible,” she said.
She continued, “The reason this moment is so important is because as long as there is a need for self-discovery and self-empowerment, as long as there is a need for victory in a person’s life. As long as there is a need for people to know what it feels like to be loved and to be completely filled with the love of another, there will be a need for the color purple.”
The Color Purple will be released in the UK and Ireland on January 26, 2024.
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/oprah-winfrey-pulitzer-prize-academy-awards-whoopi-goldberg-blitz-b1082966.html Oprah Winfrey Says New ‘The Color Purple’ Remake Is A ‘Cultivating Lifetime Moment’
