Beloved is a drama and psychological horror movie directed by Jonathan Demme. Jonathan Demme previously directed Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia starring Denzel Washington. The film is based upon the book Beloved written by Toni Morrison which was published in 1987. Beloved is inspired by true events of the slave Margaret Garner who escaped slavery in Kentucky and fled to Ohio. In accordance with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Margaret Garner was captured in Ohio. However, before surrendering, she killed her two year old daughter and was attempting to kill her other children to prevent them from going back into slavery.
The movie Beloved features a great cast. It stars Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover, both from the movie The Color Purple. Also starring is Kimberly Elise, Thandie Newton, Lisa Gay Hamilton, and the wonderful Beah Richards. Sethe and her daughter Denver are living alone after her two sons run away. They run away because there is a spirit in the house terrorizing the household. People consider Sethe and her family outcasts and avoid them. The evil or sad spirit is immediately seen and felt by former slave Paul D when he comes to visit and live with Sethe and her daughter Denver. The three are living fine together and finally venture out to a carnival. When they return home, Beloved is there.
The movie details Sethe’s ordeal of escaping slavery for the north. She names her youngest daughter Denver after the white woman who assisted her. She arrives at her mother-in-law’s home who is taking care of her other three children. Sethe realizes and basks in the joy of freedom. She has four children – two daughters and two sons. While working in the yard while her children play, she sees the slave catchers come. Sethe runs and attempts to kill all four of her children. She carries the guilt and shame of the incident on her like a tree on her back for the next eighteen years. Beloved is the spirit and physical manifestation of the toddler she killed, who in essence tortures her.
Watching the movie again more than twenty years later, Beloved is still intense but is more easily understood. Beloved is an emotional journey. There is fear and bravery in escaping slavery. Also, the belief and actions that it’s better to die than to live as a slave. There are psychological effects of slavery that Sethe and Paul D are still dealing with. Love is something they both want. But experience has taught them from slavery to be prepared to have loved ones leave unexpectedly. Also, there are issues of motherhood, sisterhood, the dynamics between mother and daughter, and the black community. The same black community, who ostracized the mother and daughter, comes to save them in the end.
Although Beloved was a box office failure, it was a cultural success within the black community. Beloved was not a commercial success. Mostly due to the topic and the heaviness of black spirituality in the movie. There is no joking, dancing, redemption, nor a clear ending. Life just continues. Kimberly Elise steals the movie from Oprah Winfrey. Her character becomes the catalyst for moving the family forward. With a running time of nearly 3 hours, to watch the movie may seem like a hard task. However, I believe every adult should watch and hopefully appreciate Beloved for the story it presents.