The Color Purple

Year

1985

Duration

147 minutes

Genres

Period and Historical

Language

English (English subtitles)

What is an Into Film Club?

Synopsis

Based on the acclaimed Alice Walker novel of the same name, The Color Purple chronicles the turbulent life of Celie, who has rarely known happiness in the American Deep South of the 1900s. When her husband separates Celie from her sister, she is plunged into a lonely, unforgiving world. However, Celie's life changes with the appearance of sultry singer Shug Avery, who gives her the determination to become a strong woman. This adaptation from director Steven Spielberg is a beautifully shot, life-affirming tale of personal triumph, love and hope.

Director/s

Steven Spielberg

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to The Color Purple (1985) to use in your teaching

What is an Into Film Club?

Classification

Contains references to child sexual abuse and infrequent moderate bad language

Find out more on the BBFC website

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to The Color Purple (1985) to use in your teaching

Resources To Use With This Film

Black Star strand resource

Black History Month, 1 Oct - 1 Nov

Activities to support debate, discussion and reflection alongside a screening from the Black Star strand.

Suitable for 11–16

2 pdf

1 ppt

View resource

A film guide that looks at The Color Purple (1985). thumbnail

The Color Purple: Film Guide

A film guide that looks at The Color Purple (1985), exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion.

Suitable for 16+

1 ppt

View resource

Related Films

Beloved(1998)

Unsettling drama based on Toni Morrison's novel about a mysterious woman who enters the life of a former slave and is related to her disturbing past.

1 Review

Certificate

14+ years 165 mins

To Kill A Mockingbird(1962)

Stream on Into Film+ Premium

Harper Lee adaptation about an idealistic white lawyer in 1930s Alabama who takes on the case of a Black man accused of an awful crime.

139 Reviews

Certificate

11+ years 124 mins

Precious(2009)

Highly charged drama about an overweight teen growing up in an abusive family in New York, who meets an inspiring teacher.

25 Reviews

Certificate

16+ years 105 mins

In The Heat of the Night(1967)

In the US south in the 60s, just after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, a black police officer is arrested for a prominent white citizen's murder.

14 Reviews

Certificate

11+ years 102 mins

Rate this film

Club Leaders can rate films! Help other club leaders decide if this film is suitable for use in their film club by giving it a rating.

Rate this film

Your rating

Click a star to rate this film

Ratings guide

Worked brilliantly
Went down well
Had some value
Did not enjoy it
Would not use again

Member rating

30 Reviews

Members rating breakdown

5 Star

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

View all reviews

Leader rating

This film has not been rated by a club leader yet. Be the first to rate this film.

Start an Into Film Club or Log in to rate this film

Sort reviews by

Viewing 0 of 0 Reviews found.

Into Film Clubs

Into Film Clubs provide opportunities to watch, review and make films.

Start an Into Film Club

Do I Need a Licence?

Information on which licences you need to show films in your education setting.

Find out more

How do Into Film Clubs work?

Find out more about what's involved in running your very own Into Film Club.

Find out more

Training

Learn to use film to raise literacy attainment and engage students.

'Sing 2' and eleven more new titles added to Into Film+ for September

18 Sep 2023 in Into Film+

Discover a bumper crop of new films now available to stream for free, including acclaimed literary adaptations, vibrant animated worlds and a silent cinema gem.

Reading time 7 mins

View Article

Celebrate LGBT+ History Month with Into Film+

17 Jan 2024

February marks LGBT+ History Month, and to help you celebrate, we've curated a programme of LGBTQ+ films and documentaries available to stream with Into Film+.

Reading time 8 mins

View Article

This guide provides quick and easy discussion tools and curricular links fo

How film club can benefit students in a Pupil Referral Unit

22 May 2017 in Into Film Club of the Month

May's leader of the month is Zahra Bei, from Burnside Secondary PRU in London. Here, she talks to us about the many ways using film has benefitted her pupils.

Reading time 2 mins

View Article