I was lucky enough to go to a special early screening of The Help last week. Written by Katherine Stockett you may recall that it was my favourite book of last year so when I heard they were making a film of it I was quite excited. I didn’t want to be disappointed either, so many film adaptions of books are never quite the same or fail to stick to the essence of the film and this was one book that was important. I am very pleased to say the film is absolutely fabulous!

First up, the casting. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a film cast so well. For anyone that has read the book and remembers Minny…I had strong visions of her and her mannerisms and a big applause from me to Octavia Spencer who play her exactly to a T. I also thought that Aibileen, played by Viola Davis, was very impressive too.

For those not familiar with the book, based in Mississippi in 1962, Miss Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, newly out of college wonders why her maid has disappeared and in her investigations starts to uncover the terrible stories and mistreatment of the housemaids of the Mississippi community. Miss Skeeter searches out the truth documenting the sad tales of black women trusted enough to raise white children but made to use separate toilets to supposedly prevent the spread of disease!?! The writing project puts them all at risk but to them the rewards are far greater.

Out in the UK on 26th October this is one film not to miss. It has been made in a sensitive thought provoking way, one minute you will find yourself laughing only to swallow back tears seconds later. It is shocking, it is funny, it is incredibly sad and I can’t see how anyone could not be moved by it. Prepare to be left with long lasting memories of this one, I award the film a big 5 out of 5 cupcakes.