A strong cast including Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Adolph Caesar, Rae Dawn Chong, Akosua Busia and Willard Pugh make the film a superb performance. The film was shot in a lovely place in North Carolina, and Quincy Jones' soul-catching music also added a lot to the film.
At the age of 14, Celie was raped by a man she called "Pa". In the past few years, she gave birth to two children for him, and both of them were sent away after they were born. Her mother has long passed away, and her younger sister Nettie is her only relative in the world. When Celie (played by Whoopi Goldberg) was forced to marry the widower Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel (played by Danny Glover) with four children, the contact between the sisters was severely restricted.
Without a friend, Celie lives alone in fear of this "master" and can only speak to God every day. The only joy in her life was when Nettie (played by Akosua Busia) arrived (seeking asylum in order to escape "Pa"). Nettie taught her sister to read, but in the end it aroused Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel's desire. When Nettie refused his further request, she was driven out of the farm. Nettie promised to write a letter and vowed that only death can separate the two sisters. Having never received a letter from her sister, Celie fell into pain and hopelessness.
Just when Celie felt most lost, two friends appeared in her life. Sofia (played by Oprah Winfrey) is married to Harpo (played by Willard E. Pugh), son of Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel. She is a tough woman, always supporting her meek husband. Celie deeply respects this woman who has fought for her rights all her life. Even more surprising is that when Celie fell ill, Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel took Shug Avery (played by Margaret Avery) home. The lively blues singer has always been his mistress, and she immediately became good friends with Celie. In a juke joint bar nearby, Shug sang a song called "Miss Celie Blues" for her new friend, encouraging her to "think you are great too". After that night, the singer told Celie about the joy of sex, which she had never experienced in the marriage of the battle of the war of no love .
After many years, Celie still yearns for letters from her sister. One day, the married Shug found a letter from Nettie. She lives in Africa with the missionary couple who adopted Celie's two children and serves as their assistant. Celie and Shug searched the house and found other letters from Nettie that had been hidden for many years under the floor. Celie knew that Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel had detained her sister's letter for several years, making her think that her beloved sister was dead. At a dinner party, the anger that had been suppressed for many years broke out, and she denounced the man who trampled on her body, mind, and soul. Celie left Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel and took over the family farm left to her by her biological father. She opened a clothing store, surrounded by humorous and brave female friends. In the end, Celie's dream was finally realized.
In an interview about "The colour purple", Movie producer Steven Allan Spielberg said, "I want the audience to feel all kinds of colors in Celie's rainbow, which she created by herself and wanders in it." The profound plot extols the value of long-lasting love, persistence, and dignity that can survive suffering, pain, and loss.
