The Color of Friendship

Last updated
The Color of Friendship
The Color of Friendship.jpg
VHS cover
Written by Paris Qualles
Directed by Kevin Hooks
Starring Carl Lumbly
Penny Johnson
Lindsey Haun
Shadia Simmons
Theme music composer Stanley Clarke [1]
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Alan Sacks [1]
ProducersKevin Hooks
Christopher Morgan [1]
Cinematography David Herrington [1]
Editor Richard Nord [1]
Running time87 minutes
Production companyAlan Sacks Productions [1]
Original release
Network Disney Channel
ReleaseFebruary 5, 2000 (2000-02-05)

The Color of Friendship is a 2000 television film based on actual events about the friendship between two girls; Mahree & Piper, one from the United States and the other from apartheid South Africa, who learn about tolerance and friendship. [2] The film was directed by Kevin Hooks, based on a script by Paris Qualles, and stars Lindsey Haun and Shadia Simmons.

Contents

Plot

In 1977, Piper Dellums is a black girl who lives in Washington, D.C., with her father, Congressman Ron Dellums, an outspoken opponent of the South African apartheid system and the oppression of black South Africans, her mother Roscoe Dellums, and two younger twin brothers, Brandon and Erik. Piper, who has been taking an interest in the different nations of Africa, begs her parents to host an African exchange student.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, Mahree Bok is a white South African who lives in a manor house with her parents and little brother Rian. They comfortably benefit from the system of apartheid without questioning its morality; Mahree's father, Pieter Bok, is a South African policeman who cannot hide his joy when Stephen Biko (a black South African man fighting against apartheid) has just been captured. They also have a black maid, Flora, whom Mahree considers her best friend, not realizing that Flora is not satisfied with her life under apartheid. Flora is a kindly woman who is friendly with the Bok children. Flora tells Mahree that when she was a little girl she would observe the weaver bird, which has many different styles of plumage, and its communal nest-building, which is used as a metaphor for the possibility of racial harmony that Mahree does not understand at the time. Mahree also asks her parents for permission to study in America, which is granted by her father, who believes she will either get homesick or realize that America is not a paradise.

Upon meeting each other, both Mahree and Piper have misconstrued notions about each other's countries: Mahree does not think that there are black politicians, only knowing the patriarch of her host family is "Congressman Dellums", and although Piper is expecting a South African exchange student, she has not considered the possibility that the student would be a white African. Mahree reacts with horror bordering on panic when confronted with this new situation, and locks herself in Piper's bedroom when she is brought to the Dellums' home. Eventually, Piper picks the lock on the door to bring Mahree some fries and a chocolate shake. Mahree is standoffish, and Piper, upset by her attitude, tells Mahree how disappointed she is in her. Stunned by this, Mahree sees how rude she's been, and agrees to stay and try to make this work. Roscoe tries to play peacemaker, chalking up Mahree's reaction to misunderstanding and culture shock, while telling Ron and Piper they have been judgmental as well.

During Mahree's stay, she and the Dellums family grow close. Mahree sees people of different races getting along and realizes how much she and Piper have in common. The two become good friends, and Mahree also begins to see her host family as individuals and learns to live among them day to day. Gradually, she develops a better understanding of what life under apartheid must be like for black South Africans.

When Stephen Biko dies under suspicious circumstances in the custody of South African police, there are mass protests around the world, including at the South African embassy in Washington, D.C., In the wake of these protests, South African embassy diplomats arrive at the Dellumses' house and take Mahree to the embassy, intending to send her back to South Africa. In response, Ron goes to the South African embassy. After he threatens to tell the press that the embassy kidnapped Mahree from her host family, the embassy releases Mahree. Mahree returns to the Dellums' without fully understanding what happened to her and why, and during her discussion with Piper she makes a cold offhand comment about Biko's death. Outraged, Piper shouts at her for being blind to the injustice of apartheid in South Africa. Hurt, Mahree runs outside, but Ron follows her. He tells Mahree that the United States had a long, hard history of trying to overcome problems, which is what South Africa is doing now, and she finally fully grasps what the liberation fighters in South Africa stand for. She then reconciles with Piper.

An epilogue-like scene at the end of the movie shows Mahree with the Dellumses at an African pride event back in America. Ron Dellums delivers a speech that includes the weaver-bird story, as told to him by "a new friend from South Africa."

Mahree leaves the United States, now a very different person. When she returns home, the first person she greets is Flora. Secretly, Mahree shows her an ANC flag sewn inside her coat, signifying her decision to side with the black liberation movement. Flora is touched and pleased. Mahree then releases the weaver-bird.

Cast

Production

The Color of Friendship was written by Paris Qualles and directed by Kevin Hooks. [1] The film is based on two separate instances in which the Dellums family hosted a white South African teenage girl as an exchange student. Both instances were combined into a single story for the film. [3] [4] [5] Filming took place in Canada, [1] and was underway in Toronto during September 1999. [6] The film's production designer was Arthur W. Herriot. [1]

Release

The Color of Friendship premiered on Disney Channel on February 5, 2000, during Black History Month. [1] [3] [7] The film was released on VHS on January 8, 2002. [8]

Reception

Lynne Heffley of Los Angeles Times praised the cast and called the film "surprisingly compelling", and stated that while it is "frequently predictable", it "delves unexpectedly deeper, too." [9] David Kronke of Los Angeles Daily News noted that the film did an "admirably handy job" of educating children about apartheid, and called it a "thoughtful, entertaining family film that tackles its issues matter-of-factly and directly". [10] Ramin Zahed of Variety praised the cast and noted the "smart usage of '70s songs" as well as Herriot's "picture-perfect production design." [1]

Scott Hetrick of the Sun-Sentinel called the film "entertaining and enlightening," stating that it had a "terrific story that is wonderfully told and thoroughly fulfilling." [4] The Seattle Times wrote that the film "breaks the nauseatingly simple 'after-school special' mold of most child-friendly teleflicks" and that it "is certainly one of the better films you'll see on the channel". [11] Paul Schultz of New York Daily News wrote that the film "grapples with apartheid head on, yet incorporates it into an engrossing, and touching, family story." Schultz further wrote that the "changes of heart" between Mahree and the Dellums family are "most affecting" and that the "story and the human dynamics here are so inherently dramatic that the heartfelt script seems to write itself. The performances are wonderful, and when politics arise it seems natural." [12]

In June 2011, Stephan Lee of Entertainment Weekly wrote that the film "rocked!" [13] In 2012, Complex ranked the film at number 10 on the magazine's list of the 25 best Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs). [14] In May 2016, Aubrey Page of Collider ranked each DCOM released up to that point, placing The Color of Friendship at number 15. Page stated, "It's totally fair that The Color of Friendship is one of the most lauded installments in the Disney franchise," writing that the film features a "comparatively unflinching look at race relations" and that it "scores extra points for refusing to shy away from the more difficult sides of racism, making sure to drive home the harsh realities of racially-motivated violence." [15] That month, Ariana Bacle of Entertainment Weekly wrote that Disney Channel "took a risk by unapologetically making a completely necessary albeit heavy statement about prejudice with one of their kid-focused films, and it was well worth it." [16] [17]

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Proud Family</i> American animated sitcom

The Proud Family is an American animated television series created by Bruce W. Smith that aired on Disney Channel for two seasons from September 15, 2001, to August 19, 2005. The series centers on the life of the titular family, including the show’s main protagonist, Penny Proud, a 14-year-old African American teenager who navigates her adolescence while dealing with her friends and family. Episodes deal with Penny discovering her boundaries and struggling with family relationships and peer pressure. Penny Proud has strong relationships with her entrepreneurial father Oscar Proud and her veterinarian mother Trudy Proud, as well as her best friends Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez, Zoey Howzer, and Sticky Webb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Lumbly</span> American actor (born 1951)

Carl Winston Lumbly is an American actor. He is known for his role as television's first Black superhero in M.A.N.T.I.S., Dick Hallorann in Doctor Sleep, NYPD detective Marcus Petrie on the CBS police drama Cagney & Lacey, CIA agent Marcus Dixon on the ABC espionage drama series Alias, and as the voice of J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter in the animated series Justice League,Static Shock and Justice League Unlimited, all part of the DC Animated Universe. As a reference to his voice work as J'onn, Lumbly portrayed J'onn J'onnz's father, M'yrnn, on The CW's Arrowverse on Supergirl from 2017 until 2019. He also plays Isaiah Bradley, the first Black super-soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installments The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and the forthcoming Captain America: Brave New World (2024).

<i>Thats So Raven</i> American television sitcom (2003–2007)

That's So Raven is an American television teen sitcom that was created by Michael Poryes and Susan Sherman, and aired on Disney Channel for four seasons between January 2003 and November 2007. The series centers on Raven Baxter (Raven-Symoné), a teenager with hidden psychic abilities. Episodes show Raven experiencing visions of future events; she must also deal with the social and personal issues of her youth. Raven often misinterprets the events she foresees, and intervenes to prevent a vision from coming true or to protect her friends and families. She uses her skills in fashion design to create elaborate disguises she wears during these schemes. Raven's secret is shared with her best friends Eddie Thomas and Chelsea Daniels, along with her brother Cory and parents Tanya and Victor. The series explores supernatural elements, family, friendship, and adolescence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Dellums</span> American politician (1935–2018)

Ronald Vernie Dellums was an American politician who served as Mayor of Oakland from 2007 to 2011. He had previously served thirteen terms as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 9th congressional district, in office from 1971 to 1998, after which he worked as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimberly J. Brown</span> American actress (born 1984)

Kimberly Jean Brown is an American actress. She is best known for her leading role as teen witch Marnie Piper in the Halloweentown film series (1998–2004), co-starring Debbie Reynolds.

<i>The Proud Family Movie</i> 2005 television film directed by Bruce W. Smith

The Proud Family Movie is a 2005 American animated comedy television film based on the Disney Channel animated series, The Proud Family. It premiered on August 19, 2005 and serves as the finale to the show’s original run.

Shadia Simmons is a Canadian teacher, director and former actress. She is best known for her role as Corrine Baxter in the television series Strange Days at Blake Holsey High, her recurring role as Emily on Life with Derek and for her starring role as Piper Dellums in the 2000 movie The Color of Friendship.

Lindsey Haun is an American actress, singer, and director. She is known for her role as Hadley on the HBO television series True Blood. She was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her role in the 2000 Disney Channel original movie The Color of Friendship as Mahree Bok, and has starred in the film Broken Bridges, for which she also recorded a portion of the soundtrack.

<i>Dont Look Under the Bed</i> 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie

Don't Look Under the Bed is a made-for-TV fantasy horror film directed by Kenneth Johnson. It was released on October 9, 1999, as a Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM).

<i>Rip Girls</i> 2000 American TV series or program

Rip Girls is a 2000 family drama Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), directed by Joyce Chopra and starring Camilla Belle as a teenage girl named Sydney. The film's plot follows Sydney, her father and his wife, stepmom Elizabeth, who come to an island on Hawaii, where they find a closer relationship to each other while struggling with ideas of changes to the island. During her time on the island, Sydney makes new friends and learns the truth about her deceased mother. The film premiered on Disney Channel on April 22, 2000.

<i>Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior</i> 2006 television film directed by John Laing

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is a 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) starring Brenda Song and Shin Koyamada. The voice of Hadley Hudson is also featured. Koyamada plays a Chinese monk who visits the title character. Wendy is a Chinese-American teenager played by Song, claimed to be the reincarnation of a powerful female warrior. She is also the only person who can prevent a spirit of an ancient and evil Chinese dragon named Yan-Lo, voiced by Hudson, from destroying the world.

<i>The Cheetah Girls 2</i> American TV series or program

The Cheetah Girls 2 is a 2006 American film and the sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), The Cheetah Girls. Directed by Kenny Ortega, the sequel is about the talented teen quartet who take a whirlwind tour of Spain to pursue their dreams of pop superstardom. Unlike its predecessor, which incorporated karaoke-like musical numbers, The Cheetah Girls 2 turned into more of a musical.

Erik Todd Dellums is an American actor and narrator. He played the drug kingpin Luther Mahoney for two seasons on Homicide: Life on the Street and voiced the roles as the radio DJ Three Dog in the 2008 video game Fallout 3, Prince Arcann, Thexan and Oggo in Knights of the Fallen Empire, the 2015 expansion to Star Wars: The Old Republic and Aaravos in the animated Netflix series The Dragon Prince.

Piper Dellums is an American author and public speaker. She is the daughter of former U.S. Congressman and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums.

Tiana (<i>The Princess and the Frog</i>) Fictional character from Disneys 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog

Tiana is a fictional character in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Princess and the Frog (2009). Created by writers and directors Ron Clements and John Musker and animated by Mark Henn, Tiana, as an adult, is voiced by Anika Noni Rose, while Elizabeth M. Dampier voices the character as a child. She will appear in the Disney+ series Tiana.

There is a wide range of ways in which people have represented apartheid in popular culture. During (1948–1994) and following the apartheid era in South Africa, apartheid has been referenced in many books, films, and other forms of art and literature.

<i>Halloweentown</i> (film) 1998 television film by Duwayne Dunham

Halloweentown is a 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie directed by Duwayne Dunham. The first installment in Halloweentown series, it stars Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, and Judith Hoag. It is the fourth Disney Channel Original Movie. It centers on Marnie, who learns she is a witch on her 13th Halloween and is transported to Halloweentown—a magical place where ghosts, ghouls, witches, and werewolves live apart from the human world, but she soon finds herself battling wicked warlocks, evil curses, and endless surprises.

<i>High School Musical</i> (franchise) Disney franchise

High School Musical is an American media franchise centered on a series of musical romantic comedy-drama films created by Peter Barsocchini. The franchise also includes stage musicals, books, comics, live shows, video games, and a television series.

<i>Kim Possible</i> (film) 2019 Disney Channel original movie

Kim Possible is an American made-for-TV action comedy film that premiered as a Disney Channel Original Movie on Disney Channel on February 15, 2019. Based on the animated series of the same name created by Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley, the film stars Sadie Stanley, Sean Giambrone, and Ciara Riley Wilson.

<i>Spin</i> (2021 film) American TV series or program

Spin is an American Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) directed by Manjari Makijany from a screenplay by Carley Steiner and Josh A. Cagan. Produced by Disney Channel Original Productions, the film stars Avantika Vandanapu, Meera Syal, Abhay Deol, Aryan Simhadri, Michael Bishop, Jahbril Cook, Kerri Medders, and Anna Cathcart and premiered on August 13, 2021. The film received positive reviews, especially for its performances.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Zahed, Ramin (February 2, 2000). "The Color of Friendship". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  2. ↑ "The Color Of Friendship (VHS)". Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  3. 1 2 Johnson, Chip (January 8, 2000). "'60 Minutes' Show Took Dim View Of West Oakland / Lawmaker angry at portrayal of area". SFGate.com . Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Hetrick, Scott (February 4, 2000). "True Story Is A Lesson In Friendship". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  5. ↑ Greene, Sydney (March 2, 2019). "The Woman Who Inspired the DCOM Classic The Color of Friendship Reflects on Its Legacy". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Leah Garchik's Personals". SFGate.com. September 27, 1999. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ Liebenson, Donald (January 23, 2000). "Tune In, Turn On To Black History Month". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2018-09-06. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  8. ↑ Davis, Cynthia (December 27, 2001). "Video Releases". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ Heffley, Lynne (February 5, 2000). "A Compelling 'Friendship'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  10. ↑ Kronke, David (February 5, 2000). "Tried the Best? Try 'The Others'". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on 2018-10-17. Retrieved September 5, 2018– via TheFreeLibrary.com.
  11. ↑ "Disney Channel brings world of prejudice to light". The Seattle Times. February 4, 2000. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  12. ↑ Schultz, Paul (January 30, 2000). "Apartheid's Visit Rouses a Fine 'Friendship'". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ Lee, Stephan (June 7, 2011). "Disney Channel Original Movies". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  14. ↑ Aquino, Tara; Scarano, Ross (December 6, 2012). "The 25 Best Disney Channel Original Movies". Complex . Archived from the original on December 12, 2012.
  15. ↑ Page, Aubrey (May 26, 2016). "Every Disney Channel Original Movie, Ranked". Collider . Archived from the original on June 9, 2016.
  16. ↑ "30 Disney Channel Original Movies, Ranked". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  17. ↑ Lee, Cydney (February 26, 2020). "'The Color of Friendship' Is Still Disney Channel's Most Progressive Movie About Race". Vice. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "52nd annual Primetime Emmy nominations, part 1". Variety. August 12, 2000. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Craft And Technical Emmys". Chicago Tribune. September 11, 2000. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  20. ↑ Toushin, Abbi (July 13, 2000). "Humanitas honors 'Basketball'". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  21. ↑ Levine, Stuart (December 6, 2000). "'Steve Harvey' tops Image Award noms". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  22. ↑ McNary, Dave (March 4, 2001). "Writers gild scribes for 'Traffic' & 'Count'". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  23. 1 2 3 "22nd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  24. ↑ McNary, Dave (February 6, 2001). "'Light,' 'Children' top DGA daytime nods". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.