Bechdel Test Movie List

This movie fails the reverse Bachdel test. No two men ever talk to each other.

Excellent film. It is entirely about women and the men are peripheral. Finally, a film that focuses on women and, my goodness, the realities of black women. Hello intersectionality! I was feeling disappointed when I thought the last scene would be of two black women helping a white person, but then the focus went back to Aibilene and gave her the last word. I'm impressed!

I agree with the rating however, I think it's important to point out that while the characters are validated as women whose sole basis is not in the service to men, its racial message seems somewhat troubling. This may seem counterintuitive considering the story's plot and setting within the Civil Right's miliue. However, it should be noted that all the African-American charcters were only successful in their aims through the support of benevolent white protagonists. It doesn't mean it was a bad film but there's oppression in the least expected places. If it's not patriarchal, it's racial. If it's not racial, it's antisemitic or anti-Muslim. If not that, it's classist. What a lovely world we live in.

The movie takes place during a time in US History when African Americans possessed very little ability to empower themselves. The film is sympathetic to the plight of black women who are forced to deal with the oppression of their white employers because they have such limited job choice. To characterize the film as racist ignores the fact that the Deep South was especially racist. What should the film have done otherwise?

I disagree with Sean, Skeeter is as dependent on Abigail and all the maids as they are on her. Her success would have been impossible without the maids empowering themselves to tell their story. Without them she might have ended up as a housewife which is the last thing she wanted with her life.

This movie is very particular because it correspond entirely to the test. First, the principal character is a young women Eugenia, who want write about the black housekeeping in Mississipi. In fact, we realize that Eugenia isn't the only important character and we take into account Aibileen and Minny, two house maid contacted by Eugenia to recover informations about their life as blacks womens in a white society. Eugenia, Aibileen and Minny talk to each other and not about love but about the situation of blacks in Mississippi, who is unfair because people they're always treated and collected like animals , despite the love that can arise between house maid, white children they raise , and sometimes even their parents.
So, this movie (inspired by the novel "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett), is a great film that challenges society in his time but also today's society, which shows strong women who don't let themselves be ruled by a world too narrow, patriarchal and racist.

Contrast 'Hidden Figures' to 'The Help'. Olivia Spencer stars in both. But in 'Hidden Figures' she is a mathematical genius with much more scope and autonomy to her life. She finds group support in facing down racism. 'Hidden Figures' unfortunately also valorizes the 'good white boss'. But at least black main characters confront him, and sometimes out-maneuver him too.

"The Help" is directed by Tate Taylor and produced by Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Brunson Green. The protagonists are Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter. Aibileen and Minny are friends and struggle with the racism in the town working as maids for white families. Whereas, Skeeter struggles to get the maids to share their stories. In this film, there are many tropes such as the alpha female, domestic violence, and backstabbing to name a few. And, yes this passes the Bechdel Test numerous times. For instance, at 58:52, Minny tells Aibileen and Skeeter that she agrees to be interviewed.