Daughters of the Dust

Synopsis

Set in 1902 the film is told through the eyes of three different women, all members of the same family living on the Sea Islands, a chain of islands off the coast of South Carolina. Steeped in the history of the West African slave trade, the islands are home to the Gullah culture which has its own unique African dialect. The women, dedicated to their life on the islands but aware of demands of the future, each struggle with the idea of leaving and migrating to the North. Contemplative, beautifully shot and with a powerful message, this is a complex film whose exploration of culture, identity and feminism make it a key piece of Black Cinema history.