Just in time for Mother's Day...

[Number23]

"Black Mothers and Daughters on Film"

I could do without all of the Tyler Perry references here, particularly as I think that his films aren't that good and don't really do the black family much justice. But what's really a shame is that even with 100 years of cinema, you can barely count a dozen memorable black mother/daughter on-screen relationships.

Some of the depictions of family in these films make the lump come up in my throat, particularly in "Imitation of Life" and "Soul Food." To this day, if I even THINK about Mahalia singing in "Imitation of Life" the tears start flowing.

Happy Mother's Day to all of my moms, mamas, and mums in AAIG.

[Fire1]

1. Thank you, Number 23 and the same to you. n/t

[bliss_eternal]

2. I vote for Eve's Bayou....

...beautiful film that I notice something new about, everytime I view it. Absolutely anything w/Angela Bassett or Alfre Woodard is fine in my book (even if the movie sucked--lol).

Oh and The Root should buy (or at least borrow) a clue....or at the very least, take the time to learn some things about the demographic they choose to write about (i.e. women). I get that the focus is all things "pertaining to black people." But mothers and daughters are complicated no matter what the racial background.

It's (sadly) telling that the Tyler Perry movies rank so high, with so many...that so many black women are willing to give his portrayal of "whoever's mama" their stamp of approval. ----heavy sigh-----

Not sure why they did not acknowledge the important work of Monique, Gabby Siboday (sp), L. Daniels and Sapphire with the critically acclaimed moviePrecious. While certainly not the ideal (or even necessarily typical) mother daughter relationship, it is worthy of mention as one of the few times anyone has dared to show an abusive mother daughter relationship on the screen.

Far too many want/need to look the other way regarding abuse. Women from abuse spend their lives feeling "less than" because no one in the community wants to acknowledge or address what they've experienced, or even call it what it is--abuse. It happens. Every day. We need to say so, so the women who've survived don't feel such shame (as if *they* did something wrong).

Nevertheless--Happy Mother's Day to all of you who work so hard, for so little. :hug::hi:

[Number23]

3. Yeah! Why didn't they mention "Precious?"

Yeah, it's harsh. Yes, it's ugly. But at least there is some semblance of reality in "Precious" (a sad, HORRIBLE reality but a reality nonetheless). There is very little even resembling reality in Tyler Perry's films. They are so predictable, almost cartoonish. And I base this opinion on the whole TWO Tyler Perry films I've seen in my lifetime ("Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "Family Reunion.")

I've also seen the comments made re: the implicit sexism in his films as well. The protagonist is always wailing and waiting for the "right man" to make her life worthwhile. :eyes: While I think it's great that there is finally a well known black filmmaker about, it would be nice if the subject matters he tackled were a bit more complex and the "solutions" to them not so old fashioned and outdated.

[bliss_eternal]

4. my guess...

...is because Precious wasn't enough of a "feel good chick flick." :eyes: ...not enough of a Disney Fairy Tale fantasy brought to life, by the powers of Hollywood film. :eyes::puke:

I think you nailed it, though.
Perry's works seem to be some sort of black female stereotype in film form. (just what we needed, right? :sarcasm:)

--cue soul cinema voice over of sassy, overweight, elderly black woman---
"Hey-Hey young, lonely Black sistah....this is how to get on with your fine, hard workin', extra special, oh so sanctified self....you know who you are, and you KNOW when you need to keep on, keepin' ON...!" (finger snaps up, down and all around). :eyes: Eh...just. so. awful.

But I'm going to stop. I promised not to trash Perry's next film after he sent the kids from that country club incident to Disney World (bless him). But I think my non-trashing quota was satisfied months ago. :P He's released at least two movies since that incident....and is about to air a talk show on TV One.

:eyes:

[noiretextatique]

5. girl you forgot about god

just turn it over to jesus and he will find you a good, christian man who loves god as much as you do :puke:

[bliss_eternal]

6. lol! lol! how could i forget...?

:rofl::eyes: ...if i had a dollar for all the women i've encountered with that specific belief.

having not actually seen perry's movies, i can't speak from experience. but i get the idea that his movies feature the obligatory "upstanding, god fearing, lord loving, church going, righteous black man" so many women dream of. he not only owns his own bible, he *reads* it. (excuse me, i just threw up in my mouth a little). ok--i'm back. i'm guessing that's part of the perry movie appeal? :shrug:

[Number23]

8. "upstanding, god fearing, lord loving, church going, righteous black man"

Actually, from my vast Tyler Perry experience (again, I've seen TWO whole movies by him) the men always seem to be jackasses. The overweight, church-going grandmother/mama types in the movie are always telling our heroine that if she just prays hard enough and spends enough time in church, he'll straighten up and fly right.

Will you excuse me for a second?? :puke: :puke: :puke:

Okay, I'm back. So even in his movies where Perry makes the woman the lead character, there is still that old-fashioned "the Lawd will set you FREE!" message instead of one of the female character actually empowering herself or (God forbid!) having supportive, female friends and relatives that help give her the courage to live life by her own terms.

I don't remember much about "Diary" but I do remember that the mother had two daughters and was soooo ugly and mean to one of them while she was just crazy about the "pretty" one. The "pretty" one she was trying her hardest to convince to marry some sh*thead who treated her like crap (and the mother knew it) but because he was handsome and well established, she couldn't have cared less how he treated her daughter. I was repulsed by this throughout the entire movie, and was also pissed that the "pretty" one didn't stand up for her sister and tell her mother to stuff it for treating that girl so badly. I think Tyler Perry needs to spend more time AROUND women and less time dressing up like one in his movies.

[bliss_eternal]

9. wow....

...that's worse than i thought. :scared:

i'm wondering how much of Oprah's "endorsement" of Perry's films are about her personal relationship w/Perry? because that does NOT sound like the kind of message Oprah would support, where women are concerned. not. at. all.

[noiretextatique]

13. in perry's films, the righteous god-fearing black woman

always gets the righteous god-fearing black man. if she is not righteous, like the character in "the family that preys," she loses the righteous god-fearing black man. if she is a bitch, like the character in "daddies little girls," the love of a righteous black man will straighten her right up. in "why did i get married," jill scott got dumped by an asshole, but she was redeemed with the help of a righteous black man. are we seeing a pattern? oprah needs to come out the closet, first of all. oprah is a pop star, basically, and i doubt she will take a critical view of any of perry's stuff.

[bliss_eternal]

14. lol.

totally agree on oprah. i'm grateful and thankful for many of the stances she's taken, and the attention she's brought to important women's issues. unfortunately, it seems that for certain celebrities she loses the ability to think (critically or otherwise)...and her brain goes wonky. :eyes:

her celeb fawning can be beyond nauseating. :puke:

[noiretextatique]

10. but...remember who got married? it was the so-called ugly one

who found the upstanding, god fearing, lord loving, church going, righteous black man who was a bus driver. after the so-called pretty one stopped acting like a doormat, the wedding was off.

[bliss_eternal]

15. which movie was this, again...?

i need to make sure to avoid it. it sounds awful, and certain to piss me off in no uncertain terms. :grr::mad:

[noiretextatique]

11. yes...all of his movies have that male character

there is always a scoundrel who abuses the righteous black woman...and a god-fearing, righteous black man who redeems the forlorn. lost, lonely devastated black woman. unfortunately, my mother loves tyler perry, so i was forced to watch all of his movies and many of the plays too :puke: notably absent in his films are independent, successfully, happy SINGLE women...except Medea, of course. in his world, oddly enough, lesbians and gay men do not exist. that's really odd since his a big old drag queen :rofl:

[bliss_eternal]

16. oh no...

so sorry to hear your mom is a fan. :blush: you seriously deserve the "daughter of the decade" award for sitting through any of that crap.

but hearing all of this just makes me that much sadder that black people support his work. on the one hand, it's great that black artists get work with him. on the other hand,....ugh--look what they have to convey/portray. :(

[Number23]

7. Yep! The Lawd ain't got nothing else to do, gal but find you a MAN!

:eyes:

[noiretextatique]

12. god made you especially for me

i think i've heard that line, ad nauseum, in every perry flick i've seen.

[bliss_eternal]

17. puh-lease....

...what a f***** load.

:puke: