1985's "The Color Purple" was life-changing for both fans and those involved with making the film. Oprah Winfrey was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the film, and she credits the movie for her continued success. In the film, Sofia is played by Winfrey. She is a large, fiercely independent woman who befriends Celie and marries Harpo. Sofia refuses to submit to whites, men, or anyone else who tries to dominate her. After defying the town's mayor, Sofia is sentenced to twelve years in jail, but the sentence is later commuted to twelve years labor as the mayor's maid.

This Steven Spielberg film drove fans to tears of heartbreak, anger, and victory. The film, which was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, portrayed the adversity and triumph of Celie Harris (Whoopi Goldberg), and other black women in the south in the early 1900s. It's a story of black female struggle, with elements that still hold true in 21st century America. The film was adapted from Alice Walker's 1982 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Menno Meyjes, a Dutch-born writer. It is a poignant and important story, personal to many, who are able to relate to Celie's life.

Again, "The Color Purple" documents the traumas and gradual triumph of women like Celie, Sofia, and others who have lived similar lives and have been raised in rural isolation in Georgia or other places in the US, as they come to resist paralyzing self-concepts forced on them by others, especially men.

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