Movie Talk

I saw this film last night, but I had read the book several years ago so I knew the story already. It was a wonderful film, starring Queen Latifah (in the first non-comedy film I have ever seen her in) and Dakota Fanning, plus several other great actors and singers. It isn't a musical, it's a very poignant story of a girl escaping from her violent and overbearing father to discover the truth about her mother's life and death. The historical and geographical context is important too - it's set in the southern USA just as the Civil Rights Act has been signed, and there's a powerful racial element too. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend it - and also read the book. For once the dialogue and all the detail is close to the book!