Viola Davis says 'The Help' is 'missed opportunity'

Los Angeles, Oct 22 (IANS) Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis says she considers "The Help" to be a "missed opportunity". "Listen, 'The Help' changed my life in a lot of different ways. First of all, the friendships that I got - that experience is something I know I'll never have again. And Tate (Taylor, the director) is a great collaborator," Davis told theguardian.com. The actress, who played the part of Aibileen Clark, one of the maids, added: "I don't want them to feel that I am blasting them in any way. It has nothing to do with the players." Instead, she feels uncomfortable that the story is largely told from the viewpoint of a white woman. "It has something to do with the culture - that I don't feel that people want to see, want to hear that voice in that time period. Because what it will become is an indictment, and it shouldn't be. I look back at that movie as a missed opportunity." The film is set during the Civil Rights movement and Davis feels it was "just too filtered down". The acclaimed actress wishes "The Help", based on a 2009 novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett, would have presented a more well-rounded version of history.