The Color Purple (1985): More Than Just Trauma Porn?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "The Color Purple," and I'm... conflicted. On one hand, it's undeniably powerful. The acting, especially Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, is fantastic. Celie's journey is heartbreaking, and you genuinely root for her. But... I couldn't shake this feeling that it teetered dangerously close to exploitation. Like, how much misery does one character have to endure? There's abuse stacked on abuse, and while I understand it's reflective of a very real and painful history, I wonder if the film truly offers a nuanced perspective or if it leans too heavily into shock value. Specifically, the scene where Mister (Albert) tries to rape Celie – it's brutal, obviously, but did it need to be so graphic? I get it, he's a monster, but sometimes I think films use violence against women as shorthand for character development, and that feels cheap here. And speaking of Mister, I found Danny Glover's performance unsettling. He's convincingly awful, sure, but I struggled to find any redeemable qualities, even in his later attempts at remorse. He just remained a caricature to me. Maybe that's the point? But I kinda think it's a problem. My pet theory is that Spielberg, as a white director, struggled to fully grasp the intricacies of the Black female experience and relied on visual spectacle to compensate. Is it possible that because he is not a Black woman, he may have inadvertently perpetuated some harmful stereotypes even while intending to portray a story of resilience? I think it is important to ask and discuss this question. Ultimately, "The Color Purple" is a film that sparks conversation. It's important, but it's also deeply flawed. I don't believe it is some immaculate work of art, despite how many people seem to be saying that. I'm glad I watched it, but I'm not sure I'd watch it again. What are your thoughts? Did anyone else feel this way?