The Women of Brewster Place (1989)

Directed by: Donna Deitch | 174 minutes | drama | Actors: Oprah Winfrey, Mary Alice, Olivia Cole, Robin Givens, Moses Gunn, Jackée Harry, Paula Kelly, Leon, Lonette McKee, Barbara Montgomery, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Lynn Whitfield, Paul Winfield, William Allen Young, Cicely Tyson

Oprah Winfrey is inextricably linked to the word talk show. She has been at the top of the most watched talk show in the world for years. But it is less known that the American also has a number of productions to her name in the acting field. What many of those movies in which the talk show hostess plays have in common is that the characters have to endure a lot. Racism because of skin colour, violence or poverty occur in the scenario of, for example, ‘The Color Purple’ or ‘Native Son’.

Also in the miniseries ‘The Women of Brewster Place’, the main characters Mattie, Ciel, Kiswana, Sophie, Theresa, Cora Lee and Etta Mae have to work hard to make their lives tolerant. Oprah takes the role of one of the women you follow throughout the entire series; Mattie Michael. Mattie is raised protectively by her parents. Dad wants the best for his only daughter; no guy is good enough in his eyes. Unfortunately for him, Mattie comes into contact with Butch and this leads her to leave her childhood home. Mattie steps out of the sheltered world of Tennessee farm life and eventually ends up in the Brewster Place neighborhood after several years.

Several women live in the apartment complex where Mattie moves. So are young Ciel (Lynn Whitfield), teacher Theresa (Paula Kelly) along with girlfriend Lorraine, single mother Cora Lee (Phyllis Yvonne Stickney), old gossip aunt Sophie (Olivia Cole), ‘do-gooder’ Kiswana (Robin Givens) and the man-eater Etta Mae (Jackée Harry). The only men in the apartment complex are janitor Ben (Moses Gun) and Abshu (Leon), Kiswana’s lover. Every resident has his own troubles and you get to know the various women very well as the series progresses.

The way Oprah portrays Mattie’s character is solid and believable. This also applies to colleague Lynn Whitfield who plays Ciel. The scene in which Mattie – a deeply shocked person – comforts Ciel makes clear why the series was nominated for an Emmy for ‘Outstanding Miniseries’. Whitfield also really makes you believe that Ciel is in deep trouble. Very amusing is the bickering between friends Mattie and Etta Mae after a visit to the church about the pastor. It’s not the only humor in ‘The Women of Brewster Place’. Old curmudgeon Sophie is causing a stir at a tenant meeting because of her gossip. Lorraine (Lonette McKee) is so tired of her neighbor’s interference that she throws food at Sophie’s window. This fragment contains both humor and a sad undertone. In addition, the symbolism in the miniseries is also striking; the ‘Dead End’ sign on the wall separating the neighborhood from the city’s main thoroughfare. The inhabitants are, as it were, hidden away by this wall as if it were just a ‘dead’ place that doesn’t matter.

‘The Women of Brewster Place’ mainly offers low points from the lives of the residents, but fortunately the positive note also occasionally crops up. The miniseries shows in an entertaining way what it is like to find your way as a colored woman with few resources. Understandably, Oprah also took on the production of this miniseries. Because the story of ‘The Women of Brewster Place’ makes you realize again how lucky you are if you don’t have to deal with racism, poverty or violence on a daily basis and that you can find happiness in the little things.