Practise close reading of The

Help sceneScene 13 – Where Hilly threatens Skeeter

Scene Summary

In this scene Hilly threatens to send Skeeter to jail. Skeeter responds angrily. Skeeter’s mother comes out and tells Hilly to go.

It is set at Skeeter’s home.

The mood is full of tension and conflict. There is rising tension as Hilly arrives at Skeeter’s house, then a surprise twist when Skeeter’s mother shames her and tells her to go.

Then the mood changes to a moving and loving atmosphere when Skeeter’s mother tells Skeeter she is very proud of her for writing The Help.

Scene Analysis

This scene shows Hilly’s hatred and desire for revenge on Skeeter. It shows the contrast between two white women, brought up in the same setting but who have very different characters, one is racist and one believes in change and tolerance.

The scene is an important scene because it shows the downfall of the antagonist who has been cruel and unfair to many of the characters in the film. It also shows how Skeeter’s courage inspires her mother to have courage and speak out against Hilly.

The director intends the audience to empathise with Skeeter and her mother and dislike Hilly. Hilly is portrayed with some humour in the scene,making the audience laugh at Hiilly as well as hate her actions.

The film aspects I have chosen to write about in my film essay

Dialogue

Camera shots/cinematography

Character’s actions/characterisation

Setting

Thematic approach

Plan - Dialogue

Dialogue

“Oh missy, you’re going to jail”

“And that nigger Minny, do I have plans for her”

“Careful Hilly, that’s Chapter 12”

“Get your raggedty ass off my porch”

“Sometimes courage skips a generation”

“I have never been so proud”

Plan – Camera ShotsCamera Shots – over the shoulder shot, close up. Includes audience. Makes audience feel and really see Hilly’s hatred and anger.

Reaction ShotClose up of Skeeter, seen over Hilly’s shoulder reacting to Hilly’s threats.

Her expression is calm – contrast to Hilly’s anger and lack of control..

MidShotShows a twist – Skeeter’s mother shaming Hilly. Shows Skeeter’s mother is calm and in control and she chooses her insults carefully. Hilly’s wide open mouth and expression of shock are humorous and show her horror and surprise. Skeeter is in the background and her expression also shows surprise.

Long shotThis slightly high angle shot shows Hilly’s lack of power. She is walking backwards to her car, disbelieving but forced to go as Skeeter’s mother continues to insult her. Her wild hair and unsteady movements are a contrast her perfect styling earlier in the film.

Close up Shot

Plan – Character’s actions

Character’s actions

Hilly threatens to send Skeeter to jail – shows how full of racism, revenge and hatred she is.

Skeeter warns Hilly about pie chapter – shows her standing up to Hilly, fighting oppression, and having a voice

Skeeter’s mother tells Hilly to go – shows her support for Hilly, unity against bullying and Hilly’s shock at this

Skeeter’s mother tells Skeeter how proud she is of her – shows her pride in Skeeter and her change in character, and her honouring Skeeter’s actions.

Plan - Themes

Racism and Revenge

Standing against oppression and bullying

Family and unity

Courage

Honouring courage and action

Plan - Setting

Skeeter’s house, rural setting

Wealthy background, they have hired ‘help’

1960’s – music “the Twist”

Jackson, Mississipi

Southern states of America

Civil Rights Era

Racism

Shows contrast between white people of that era who supported civil rights and social change and those who didn’t

Paragraph example

The setting in this scene is realistic and authentic. It shows Skeeter’s house which is a lovely rural villa which has hired help. Miss Hilly drives there with the 1960’s song “The Twist” playing loudly adds humour and realism. Miss Hilly confronts and threatens Skeeter and this battle of words between two wealthy white women emphasise the contrasting views about race and civil rights in America at that time. The beautiful setting is a striking contrast to the ugliness of Hilly’s racism and hatred.At the end of the scene the loving pride Skeeter’s mum shows toward’s Skeeter as they sit together on the couch shows that Skeeter’s courage has inspired her mother to find her own courage and voice. Skeeter’s house is where she learned so much from Constantine. It represents hope and change in the South. This setting is very similar to the setting where Tate Taylor and Kathryn Stockett grew up. They had a black nanny who was like their co-mother, much like Constantine parented and cared for Skeeter in the setting in the film.