![]() ![]() ![]() The very casting of Henrietta (Renée Elise Goldsberry), told through flashbacks drowned at first in black and white and then in sepia tones so we can be sure it’s in the past, hints at the broader point of the film, which is to create a story about a woman of color when so few mainstream stories do so. The telling of Henrietta Lacks’s life story and long-lasting legacy draws comparison to Hidden Figures, if only because the number of notable films about historically significant black women can be counted on one hand. It’s tough to give proper context for a person’s entire life story in a 90-minute made-for-television film, but certain aspects of the storyline could have been expanded - Deborah’s struggle with mental health, for instance, which is introduced several times but never really discussed. It’s also perhaps a huge testament to the costume department, who dressed down a billionaire style icon into flannel button-downs, Vans and an ever-present “WWJD” lanyard. But it’s a testament to her performance that we can momentarily forget we’re looking at, well, Oprah. In an interview with the New York Times, Winfrey said she originally didn’t want to be in the cast. ![]() For Rebecca, it’s about sharing a story that the world should know about for Deborah, it’s about uncovering a past that has simultaneously haunted and intrigued her. Together, journalist Rebecca Skloot (Rose Byrne) and Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah (Oprah Winfrey) support each other through the process of learning about the forgotten woman behind one of the greatest cancer research breakthroughs. But after dispelling notions that this story is about a white woman’s discovery of a black woman’s story, it’s nicely told. ![]()
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