Released in 1998, the film version of Beloved received mixed critical reviews. Those who had read the book generally appreciated the film more than those who hadn't. Anyone who has read the book can understand the challenge involved in translating Morrison's multi-layered story onto the screen. How does one handle the fluid narrative, which in the book slips effortlessly back and forth between past and present? How does one convey the atmosphere of the house or the internal lives of the various characters?
While the film addresses these issues, its success at reproducing the style, mood, and characters of the book is uneven. At points, the filmmakers capture Morrison's vision perfectly; at other times, important concepts are lost and the flow of the story becomes confused. For instance, the film beautifully depicts Baby Suggs's revival meetings in which she calls forth the children, the men, and the women. Beah Richards is spectacular as Baby, radiating the love and power on screen that you feel in the pages of the book. The scene in which the people gather, the children laugh, the men dance, and the women weep is potent in its activity and noise, and it conveys the importance of healing, community, and love even better than the book does.
