Based on Alice Walker's 1982 novel of the same name, The Color Purple spans 35 years in the life of Celie, a teenage African-American girl living in Georgia who is given by her abusive stepfather to an even more abusive husband. Though Celie spends most of her days as a servant in her own household, she, cut off by her husband from those she loves, tries to remain hopeful that she will ultimately be reunited with her sister Nettie and her children, Adam and Olivia. Over the years, Celie, increasingly jaded by her lot, finds ways to cope with life-- a potential lover in the fabulous Shug Avery, a friend in her stepson's wife Sofia, and a love of making stretchable pants that turns into a booming business. Through her string of unfortunate events, Celie learns that the most important thing is that she is a survivor, and that no matter what happens to her, she is still here.