'The Color Purple' is a movie musical remake done right

In early 20th century Georgia, Celie Harris (Fantasia Barrino) endures struggle and hardship following the disappearance of her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) and her abusive marriage to Mister Johnson (Colman Domingo). Through the years, Celie strikes up unbreakable friendships with the likes of Sofia (Danielle Brooks), jazz singer Shug (Taraji P. Henson) while yearning for the return of her sister...

Movie musical remakes are something of a recent phenomenon, with the results varying between tedious rehashes and unnecessary embellishment. Yet in 'The Color Purple', there's much more than merely taking the structure and characters of one story, and transposing it into a musical. Instead, Blitz Bazawule's direction and Marcus Gardley's screenplay finds notes and shades that were missing from the original, and unearths new meaning and colour as well. The new cast, as well, find different interpretations in their characters and their relationships.

There's much more vibrancy and joy in this version, which comes from not only the musical moments and dance choreography, but from the cast itself. Fantasia Barrino and Taraji P. Henson play off one another, and the relationship between their characters is more stated than the previous version. Moreover, Colman Domingo's performance reflects off of Danny Glover's performance in the same role. Halle Bailey shines as Nettie Harris, sparkling with hope and optimism in a story that is burdened with darkness and despair. Danielle Brooks, however, shines out above them all as Sofia and gives a truly inspiring performance that's already been recognised in this year's Oscars.

Blitz Bazawule's previous work with Beyoncé on 'Black Is King' and 'The Lion King: The Gift' shows an inherent understanding of not only cultural significances, but how music is blended into the very fabric of it. There's an awareness of light, movement, and choreography and allows for a lot more impressionistic visual flourishes that the original movie didn't have. Indeed, the very idea of a musical is that it can beyond pedestrian imagery and bring forth a richness and abundance of emotions that wouldn't previously have sat easily. Tonally, of course, there's no point denying that 'The Color Purple' does sometimes clash and clash hard. It can be difficult to rectify the evidence of sexual abuse and incest with the kind of joyful singing and dancing that precedes, yet the point of the whole story is that joy and happiness can and must exist in a world that is very often shadowed in darkness.