Once in a while, you stumble across a movie that makes you think, but , it is very rare to find a movie that prompts you to evaluate the complex relationships that comprise your life. Set in modern day New York, the movie For Coloured Girls details the impact of the dysfunctional relationships that consume the lives of 8 women.

This movie is  poignant because  it brings to the fore the shameful darkness of abuse. The stellar ensemble of Janet Jackson, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg, Anika Rose, Loreta Devine, Kerry Washington, Thandie Newton and Phyllicia Rashad project the turmoil behind the walls of many homes. Through their spectacular performance, we see how even the most beautiful, the most talented and the most independent amongst us can fall prey to abuse.  Sadly, we women have a very tolerant and vague way of defining abuse. We say 'So long as he does not hit me," or  " He just pushed me," … Other  women who are observers of the situation supply excuses for the men by blaming the victim, ignoring the fact that there is no justification for abuse. 

Abuse is often cleverly crafted as concern, passion or true love. It may start with the boy who wants to do everything for you, take you everywhere and be with you all the time. It fast tracks to him resisting any attempt of you asserting your independence. First, he raises his voice, next, he raises his hand and suspends it in the air as if to restrain himself from striking you. It gets bolder when he slams his fist on the table to get your attention or he punches his hand in the wall to emphasize his rage. Then the rage expands with escalating violence. Physical abuse leaves scars that can be covered up with foundation, but when someone is suffering from emotional neglect, beration and public humiliation, we often do not see it as abuse, when in truth it also has damaging consequences.  In the movie For Colored Girls, the pain of living in physical and emotional abuse is intricately dissected. It makes you wonder why the victims suffer in silence and why those who witness the violence act not do more to stop it.  However, abuse is only one of the various layers that Tyler Perry tackles in the movie adaptation of  Ntozake Shange Sangze revered book 'For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf'. This is a must see movie. It is beautifully scripted, moving beyond words and relatable to every race or creed. Go and see it.