Taking a Closer Look at "Sparkle"
My good friend
angiej and I found ourselves in ghetto heaven this past Friday night as TVOne aired the beloved cult classic "Sparkle."
This urban tale of triumph over adversity, heartache, young love, and finding your voice has enchanted and inspired young African American girls throughout the years and prompted our interest in girl groups.
We so love this movie that rarely do we take the time to examine the things that are so messed up about the movie. Instead we sing along to the familiar tunes and stare wide-eyed at the screen until the final credits roll.
For me, this last viewing was different.
Although I absolutely enjoyed the movie as I always do, I was really disturbed at how the movie's characters treat the less exotic looking sister Delores played by Dwan Smith. Delores is proud and smart, but were it not for a few powerful bits of dialog and one plot forwarding scene, she'd disappear into the wallpaper never to be noticed. Sparkle (Irene Cara) is so enamored with Sister (Lonette McKee) that she barely gives Delores a second glance. Sister hardly acknowledges her at all except to be mean to her.
Delores resents her mother's job as a domestic so much that she doesn't take the time to appreciate the sacrifices that her mother has made for her daughters or the pain she feels for them. Mamma appears tough but never exercises the tough love that just may have helped things turn out a little better.
Lonette McKee rocks as Sister oozing beauty and confidence. Everybody loves Sister , nevermind the fact that she's probably far from being the most likeable character in the film. If we are to keep it real, we have to admit that Sister is conceited, selfish, and money hungry. Truth be told, she didn't even have the most melodic voice, but we suspended that truth because we like her so much. Sister is so seduced by the scent of money that she takes up with Satin the neighborhood drug dealer. The sucky part is that he's her boyfriend's boss, he keeps her doped up and regularly uses her as a punching bag. As long as he buys her nice things and parades her around on his arm everything's all good..and thus her demise. In spite of all this, Sparkle still adores her.
Delores exits the movie with a great speak, but nothing more. We never learn what happens to her. She's a no-show at the movie's major tragic scene nor at the end. I always imagined that she got an advanced degree and was off being a doctor or lawyer somewhere. That way, I don't get so mad about her invisible treatment in the movie.
Stix and Sparkle are our hero and heroine....good through and through. The good looking couple fall in love and all is as it should be...or is it?
If you've seen the movie, then you know what happens, if not..then you need to rent it.
Despite its flaws, "Sparkle" will always a be favorite of mine. A movie in which we learned all the songs on the the soundtract simply from watching it so many times. This movie represents a part of me and for that reason, I will always race to the TV to see it when it airs.
I know the ending is a little far fetched and the plot holes are a little jarring, but it will forever be a favorite of mine.
Stix: "I'm looking for a singer."
Sparkle: "Haven't you heard? This family's fresh out."
Classic.