Film rejected by studios becomes box office hit

31/08/11 16:46 CET

cinema

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Based on the best selling novel of the same name, written by Kathryn Stockett, ‘The Help’ is a box office hit that nearly did not make it as a film, after a number of studio rejections.

Then Dreamworks came to rescue and the film is now Oscar bound.

Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan is a young university graduate attempting to start a career as a journalist. She decides to write a book about the lives of housekeepers keeping the homes of Jackson, Mississippi tidy and raising white children.

Talking about the feel of the story, Emma Stone who plays Skeeter quips: “Human”.

Viola Davis who plays Aibeleen continues: “Yeah, human. Absolutely, human story. Universal human story, a historical story.”

Stone picked up: “A story of hope and bravery and humour and friendship and overcoming and becoming. And courage.”

Actress Viola Davis is a possible Oscar contender for her portrayl of loyal housekeeper Aibeleen. She mused about her character: “I have a lot of Aibeleen in me I think. I think quiet dignity is how she’s described a lot.”

But does Stone have anything in common with her character?

She answers: “I think I have a fair amount in common with Skeeter. I wish I had that level of… well, maybe I don’t because I think that she begins in a very idealistic way, she’s kind of unrealistic in the beginning and the fact that it ends up working out. No, well, you know what, I do have that because I am idealistic.”

‘The Help’ is being released in European cinemas now.

More about: Cinema, Human Rights, USA

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