This is an adaptation of the novel by Ernest J. Gaines. I think that if you’ve never read that novel this might come off as a really great film for its time. But seeing as though I’ve read the book I think this film is a huge disservice to it and the black community. Do not get me wrong I think the film is okay and it was important that it was seen by tv audiences in the mid 70s. However, the changes made from book to film are detrimental to the film and borderline whitewashing and I really don’t like that. I’d almost put this in the blaxploitation film category because of the changes made.
One of the biggest issues I had was changing the narrator from a racially ambiguous but most likely black school teacher to a white reporter from New York. It really makes it seem like whit people wanted to put their stamp of approval on this story in order for it to be more widely accepted by the public. I didn’t enjoy that. They also removed an entire section of the book that involved interracial relationships. I understand it isn’t essential to Jane’s story and the runtime for a tv movie is only so long but it was an important part of the book and it felt intentionally left out.
I think the technical aspects were okay for the budget it obviously had and Cicely Tyson was incredible as Jane. The ending wasn’t accurate to the book and I think that lack of ambiguity harmed the ending a little. I do think they had some missed opportunities but I’m glad the story as a whole got to be seen.
This is an adaptation of the novel by Ernest J. Gaines. I think that if you’ve never read that novel this might come off as a really great film for its time. But seeing as though I’ve read the book I think this film is a huge disservice to it and the black community. Do not get me wrong I think the film is okay and it was important that it was seen by tv audiences in the mid 70s. However, the changes made from book to film are detrimental to the film and borderline whitewashing and I really don’t like that. I’d almost put this in the blaxploitation film category because of the changes made.
One of the biggest issues I had was changing the narrator from a racially ambiguous but most likely black school teacher to a white reporter from New York. It really makes it seem like whit people wanted to put their stamp of approval on this story in order for it to be more widely accepted by the public. I didn’t enjoy that. They also removed an entire section of the book that involved interracial relationships. I understand it isn’t essential to Jane’s story and the runtime for a tv movie is only so long but it was an important part of the book and it felt intentionally left out.
I think the technical aspects were okay for the budget it obviously had and Cicely Tyson was incredible as Jane. The ending wasn’t accurate to the book and I think that lack of ambiguity harmed the ending a little. I do think they had some missed opportunities but I’m glad the story as a whole got to be seen.
