By: Haley Pilkington

Period 6 Film

The Help

• Emma Stone: Skeeter Phelan; writer/main character and

protagonist

• Viola Davis: Aibileen Clark; maid

• Octavia Spencer: Minny Jackson; maid

• Jessica Chastain: Celia Foote; housewife

• Bryce Dallas Howard: Hilly Holbrook; housewife and

antagonist

• Allison Janney: Charlotte Phelan; Skeeter’s mother

Cast

Plot and Setting• Jackson Mississippi, 1963

• Ms. Aibileen and Ms. Minny are maids for wealthy families and their children who are most commonly mistreated by the wives

• Skeeter decides to write newspaper article on relationship between black and white help

• More maids catch wind of documentation of Aibileen and Minny and become involved

• Skeeter’s idea runs wile through the maid network

• Instead of a newspaper article, Skeeter anonymously publishes her book The Help documenting the maids stories and experiences

Themes• Race: there should be no separation

between blacks and whites solely based on skin color

• Society: Higher class families do not have the right to treat their maids and the rest of lower society as inferior

• Unity: it was imperative that the network of maids in Jackson stuck together and let their voice be heard

• Love: regardless of the mistreatment from the mothers, the maids loved the children they took care of and did not let society politics interfere with taking care of their children http://www.studiobriefing.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/the-help-

poster.jpg

• Lighting: contrast from light to dark when in private documenting maid’s stories

• Framing: When Ms. Aibileen is fired and Mae is pictured in a close-up, trapped behind a window and unable to reach Aibileen

• Costumes: spot on accuracy with costume choices of maids, and 1960’s attire through Skeeter and white women

Cinematic Elements

http://image.nanopress.it/cinema/fotogallery/625X0/59285/bryce-dallas-howard-sissy-spacek-e-octavia-spencer.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbuKgzgeUIU