Purple Rain
Originally published on social media on August 8th, 2022
With one more month left until school begins again, I figured it was time to switch things up! Earlier, it dawned upon me that it was this time last year when I broke my own impressive record & watched twenty three 80’s films in one week. While I don’t plan on a marathon quite as ambitious, it has inspired the last theme for this summer: the 1980’s. Of course there will be John Hughes, but I hope to explore films outside of the typical 80’s stereotype. Who better to break stereotypes than Prince?
Being the film & music connoisseur I claim to be, I’m genuinely surprised it took me until this summer to see this film. This film has been mentioned in almost every “films to see before you die” list. Here’s why I think that is:
It’s groundbreaking. Prince gives performances that are incredible to witness. If for no other reason, see this film for the music. Prince himself definitely broke cultural norms and revolutionized the idea of weird being cool. Prince wears heels along with other shiny outfits & he pulls it off well without anyone stereotyping or mocking him for it.
The other thing that makes this film groundbreaking is how it displays the reality of growing up witnessing domestic abuse. It’s real. It’s ugly. It’s a subject people avoided for generations. And it’s heartbreaking. This film shows that anyone can overcome their challenging circumstances.
Watching this film was an experience filled with moments that were depressing along with moments of great musical performances. The lighting, color scheme, and all of the technical film details are unique and contribute to the overall tone of the film.
This is a good film, but for me, it’s a one time see. Personally, I believe the music was the best part of the film and would rather enjoy the film’s soundtrack than watch the film itself again. Perhaps it’s because I don’t like sad stories or depressing tones, but in general, the film is strong enough to make its impact the first time without the need of repetition.