When I heard that Pratibha Parmar was making a documentary about
Alice Walker, I thought I had died and gone to queer, black,
feminist heaven. Two fierce, formidable women of colour activists
reunited on a new project? It sounded almost too good to be
true.
Alice Walker is, of course, the author of The Color Purple, the
novel that brought her international recognition, and for which she
won the first Pulitzer Prize to be awarded to an African-American
woman. I remember it being one of the first books that I read in
which a queer character was the source of salvation in an otherwise
harrowing novel, rather than the harbinger of doom and gloom.
Like many others, Steven Spielberg was captivated by Walker's
work and decided to adapt The Color Purple for the screen. The
hugely controversial film achieved the rare feat in Hollywood of
having an almost exclusively Black cast, including Whoopi Goldberg
in the role that launched her to stardom.
As well as being an award-winning writer, Walker has always been
at the forefront of social justice movements, from civil rights to
global feminism. Most recently, she served as a juror on the
Russell Tribune on Palestine and was the eldest passenger on the
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza that sailed in July 2011.
On this side of the pond, Pratibha Parmar is known for her
outspoken, passionate and lyrical work as a lesbian activist
filmmaker. As a young, British Asian dyke, discovering Parmar's
films and books played a big part in developing my political
consciousness, as I know they did for many other women.
Parmar and Walker's high profiles have helped to secure a
stellar cast for the film, including Danny Glover, Howard Zinn and
Stephen Spielberg. And the close relationship between the filmmaker
and her subject means that the documentary is sure to get to the
real Alice Walker, including her relationship with legendary
lesbian singer Tracy Chapman - and what a power couple they must
have been!
Alice Walker: Beauty In Truth has been four long years in the
making. It is scheduled for completion early next year, in time for
the 30th anniversary of The Color Purple, but whether
the filmmakers can afford to finish it by then is down the whole
community. Financing independent film, particularly with queer
content, is no easy business. Parmar has turned to crowdfunding in
an attempt to raise the funds to finish the film. So far, 188
people from around the world have made donations totaling $16,652 -
a strong start on the plan to raise $50,000 in the next 6
weeks.
There are some pretty sweet perks in return for your support,
including DVDs, signed books and exclusive premiere tickets. Plus,
you'll see your name on the donor wall and know that you played a
crucial part in bringing Alice Walker's fascinating life to the big
screen.
To watch the trailer, find out more about the film and make a
donation, visit http://www.indiegogo.com/Alice-Walker-Beauty-In-Truth-2
.
