Daughters Of The Dust

Julie Dash wrote and directed the film Daughters of the Dust which tells the story of an African American sea-island family preparing to come to the mainland at the turn of the century. Gullah Island is located off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina and is home to a unique group of people who speak a dialect based on the West African languages spoken by their forefathers who were brought to the Caribbean as slaves. The residents have also managed to preserve many of the West African tribal traditions. This drama offers a fascinating, insightful look into their lives as it tells the story of an island family as it tries to decide whether or not to stay there and live in poverty or take their chances on the mainland. The movie would seem to have slim commercial prospects, and yet by word of mouth it is attracting steadily growing audiences. At the Film Forum in New York, it had grossed $140,000 in its first month. "Daughters of the Dust" was made by Dash over a period of years for a small budget (although it doesn't feel cheap, with its lush color photography, its elegant costumes, and the lilting music of the soundtrack) and is not rated but is suitable for general audiences. It is an astonishing, vivid portrait not only of a time and place, but of an era's spirit. Click Here To Return To Previous Page