Daughters of the Dust (1991)

Working with a theme and history that's obviously dear to her heart, first-time writer-director Julie Dash's exquisitely alive film chronicles the last days of the Gullah, an Americanized West African people in danger of losing their identity. Dash makes up for some overly schematic dialogue and an occasionally pokey pace with some strong performances (particularly Cora Lee Day as the sternly matriarchal Nana) and an absolutely wonderful visual sense (kudos should also go to her ace cinematographer Arthur Jafa, whose dazzlingly sumptuous imagery surely inspired Jonathan Demme's later Beloved). A rapturously textured, wholly mesmerizing glimpse into the Gullah culture. --Andrew Wright Amazon.com

'Dusting' Off a History You Don't Read About in School.....

When asked what your knowledge of the history of the South encompassed what would you say? For me, it would be a brief overview of the Civil War, the Migration North for African Americans seeking a new life in the boroughs of New York and Chicago (among other places) and the Civil Rights Movement (with an emphasis on the life's work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., of course). There is so much more to this history that we don't commonly hear about in textbooks though. Specifically, the subject I am referring to is that of the Gullah, a group of African Americans who made their home in the Low Country of South Carolina and Georgia. They are also known as Geechee. They spoke their own distinctive dialect, prepared Gullah rice dishes (like red rice and okra soup), and herbal medicines based on traditional African practices.

In DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST, a 1991 release directed by Julie Dash, we get a glimpse into the culture of the Gullah. I am not certain, but, I believe this may be the first and only film of its kind released in theaters to really explore them. The cinematography is beautiful and really is the highlight of this story. The colors are hypnotic and visual imagery rich. The subjects appear illuminated and have an ethereal glow.

Unfortunately, the emphasis on aesthetic beauty, here, does not carry into other aspects of the film. Scenes of the Gullah clan fighting, working, praying, performing ritual, falling in love, and reflecting on the deep wounds of ancestral pain are not presented in a linear or comprehensible way. I realize that in order to really comprehend what is going on, on a deeper level, it helps to have more of a background in the cultural practices of the Gullah. How many people truly have a grasp on this significance, though? It truly would have been wonderful if the director, Julie Dash, had been more inclusive of her audience. I almost sense that this film is a valentine to the past. We watch scenes of beautiful women walking along the shore, preaching gospel to young children, experiencing visitations from the spirit world and men struggling to make peace with themselves and their culture, in preparation to journey north, uprooting themselves from what they know. It's just a shame that the effect of the film comes across as being more of an indirect ode to a group of people more viewers ought to know about, as opposed to an insightful and enlightening work of historical fiction brought to the screen. April 4, 2008

Visually Beautiful

I enjoyed this movie. It is so visually beautiful. It is really a feast to my eyes. The Peazant family is at a cross roads. Some of the family members are leaving the island for good. They know they are leaving a big part of their heritage behind. They are the descendents of the Africans who were deposited there long years ago.

It is a beautiful story. I recommend it and Ms. Dash's book version.

January 30, 2008

Mesmerizing, Haunting Cinematic Tribute to Early 20th Century Gullah Culture

"Daughters of the Dust" is truly a cinematic feast for the eyes, and one that has to be savored slowly, metaphorically taking sips from it as if it was a bottle of some elegant vintage wine. Those expecting a fast-paced narrative drama will most surely be disappointed, since the film slowly takes us through the final days of a Gullah family's life on the Sea Islands of North Carolina and Georgia, shortly before most of the family treks north for a new, promised life bereft of time-honored Gullah traditions. Filmmaker - and screenwriter - Julie Dash has rendered a beguiling look at the Peazant's family past and present, as seen through the eyes of the matriarch Nana Peazant (Cora Lee Day in an extremely rich, intense performance, that's truly one of the best in an ensemble cast of fine performances.). There's ample attention paid to African folk wisdom and culture, demonstrating the rich cultural heritage of the Sea Islands' Gullah people, as the Peazant family ponders its future in one final family gathering. Cinematographer Arthur Jafa's camera has recorded this saga in visually sumptuous imagery that is sincerely respectful of Gullah traditions and affectionately pays homage to them. Dash's wonderful film must surely rank as one of the most intriguing cinematic debuts in American cinema, hopefully pointing the way to a new generation of Afro-American filmmakers and others interested in her unique, almost existentalist, means of cinematic storytelling (I might add too that I had the pleasure of hearing Ms. Dash discuss her film here in New York City a few days ago; it was a delightful, inspiring discussion which was both emotionally and intellectually quite rewarding. I might add too, that I had the pleasure of speaking with her afterwards, discovering that we are mutual admirers of the splendid fiction of Octavia Butler, whose unexpected passing last year has deprived both Afro-American literature and literary science fiction of one of their most thoughtful, eloquent voices.). February 6, 2007

We Get What We Bring: Be a Guest at the Feast

We get what we bring. This principle is brilliantly illustrated in the responses here to "Daughters of Dust," Julie Dash's brilliant and ground-breaking independent film. To dismiss the film is easy, because it uses non-traditional story-telling techniques rather than the ones we are used to in mainstream cinema and popularly received independent films. To receive this film fully takes some time, willingness, effort, and suspension of our usual perception. But, if the viewer can do all that, what a gift Julia Dash and her tribute cast and crew has given us to unwrap.

I lived and worked in Africa for five years and for me, the film so well conveys the African spirit, basic cultural beliefs, sense of wonder (magic), and time that was then transported to the New World. I learned so many things by being with this film and watching the richly detailed accompanying documenting on its making.

Is this easy, pre-digested material? No. Can we afford to dismiss our passionate geniuses in any art form? No. Come to "Daughters of Dust" with a full heart, open mind, and a willingness to digest your own food--so lovingly cooked here.

Janet Riehl, author Sightlines: A Poet's Diary August 10, 2006

Wonderful, exciting, historical and captivating

This film by independent filmmaker Julie Dash, shows a fictional portrayal of a family, dominated by their women, in the what would be considered to some as the Gullah South. The family prepares to leave their island place of origin to live on mainland America. As they embark on their departure, the narrator (an unborn child) traces the families story from slavery until the day. Truly an inspirational piece of work, used in many college film classes. This jewel of a film has been kept a secret due to the way cinema is disseminated and the trends in American marketing distribution of film. A must see for teachers of African American history, literature, and film. August 8, 2006

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