Daughters of the Dust facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Daughters of the Dust |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Julie Dash |
| Produced by | Lindsay Law Julie Dash Arthur Jafa Steven Jones |
| Written by | Julie Dash |
| Starring | Cora Lee Day Barbara O Alva Rogers Trula Hoosier Umar Abdurrahamn Adisa Anderson Kaycee Moore |
| Music by | John Barnes |
| Cinematography | Arthur Jafa |
| Editing by | Amy Carey Joseph Burton |
| Distributed by | Kino International |
| Release date(s) | January 1991 (Sundance Film Festival) January 3, 1992 (United States) |
| Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Gullah, English |
| Budget | $800,000 |
Daughters of the Dust is a special independent film from 1991. It was written, directed, and produced by Julie Dash. This movie was the first feature film by an African-American woman to be shown in movie theaters across the United States.
The story takes place in 1902. It follows three generations of Gullah women from the Peazant family. They live on Saint Helena Island and are getting ready to leave their home. They plan to move from the Southern United States to the North.
The film was praised for its beautiful pictures and unique storytelling. It also featured dialogue in the Gullah language. The movie was filmed on St. Helena Island in South Carolina. Daughters of the Dust was chosen for the 1991 Sundance Film Festival. The director of photography, Arthur Jafa, won a top award for his camera work.
Julie Dash has written two books about Daughters of the Dust. One book is about making the film. The other is a novel that continues the story 20 years later. In 2004, the film was chosen to be kept in the United States National Film Registry. This means the Library of Congress saw it as very important culturally and historically. In 2016, the film was restored and re-released for its 25th anniversary.
Contents
Exploring the Story: What Happens in the Film?
Daughters of the Dust is set in 1902. It tells the story of the Peazant family, who are Gullah islanders. They live on Dataw Island, which is near St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia. Their ancestors were brought to the island as enslaved people many years ago.
Over time, the islanders created their own special language and culture. This culture is a mix of West African traditions and some influences from the British Isles. Their language is known as Gullah or Sea Island Creole English. Because they lived somewhat isolated on the islands, their unique culture and language have lasted for a long time. In the film, the characters speak in this Gullah language.
The Unborn Child's Voice
The story is told by the Unborn Child. This is the future daughter of Eli and Eula. Her voice shares stories from her ancestors. The film uses beautiful images and a storytelling style that moves back and forth in time. This shows the past, present, and future for the Gullah people. Most of them are about to leave the island for a more modern life on the mainland.
Nana Peazant, the oldest woman in the family, represents the old ways. She practices African spiritual rituals. Nana tells her family to remember their ancestors as they start their new journey. She says, "We are two people in one body. The last of the old and the first of the new."
Family Decisions and New Beginnings
Two cousins, Viola and Yellow Mary, arrive on the island. Viola is a strong Christian. Yellow Mary is a free spirit who brings her friend, Trula, from the city. They come for a last family dinner. Yellow Mary plans to move to Nova Scotia after her visit. Mr. Snead, a photographer, comes with Viola. He takes pictures of the islanders before they leave their way of life.
The film also shows problems between Eli and his wife, Eula, who is expecting a baby. Eli is worried about his future and his connection to his ancestors. The Unborn Child of Eli and Eula narrates the film. She traces the family's history before she is born.
Other family stories also unfold. Haagar, another cousin, thinks the old island beliefs are "behind the times." She is eager to leave for a modern society with better education and jobs. Her daughter, Iona, wants to be with her secret love, St. Julien Lastchild. He is a Cherokee Native American who lives on the island. On the day Iona is supposed to leave, Lastchild gives her a letter asking her to stay.
While the women prepare a traditional meal, the men talk and play games. The children play and have a Bible study with Viola. Bilal Muhammad, a cousin, leads a Muslim prayer. Nana calls upon the spirits of the family's ancestors. She combines the power of their ancestors with Viola's Bible. This shows how the old and new ways can come together.
The family members make their final choices. Some decide to leave the island for a new start. Others choose to stay and keep their traditional way of life. Yellow Mary decides to stay on the island with Eli and Eula. As a boat leaves, Iona jumps off it. Lastchild comes for her on horseback. Haagar is held back by another family member as she calls for her daughter. The remaining family members watch as most of the Peazants finally leave.
Meet the Cast: Who Played Who?
- Cora Lee Day as Nana Peazant – The oldest woman in the family, who wants to stay on the island.
- Adisa Anderson as Eli Peazant – Nana's grandson, who is unsure whether to leave or stay.
- Alva Rogers as Eula Peazant – Eli's wife, who is pregnant.
- Kay-Lynn Warren as Unborn Child – The spirit of Eula's unborn child. She tells much of the story and appears as a young girl before she is born.
- Kaycee Moore as Haagar Peazant – Nana's strong-willed granddaughter-in-law, who leads the move north.
- Cheryl Lynn Bruce as Viola Peazant – One of Nana's granddaughters, who has moved to Philadelphia and become a strong Christian.
- Tommy Hicks as Mr. Snead – A photographer from Philadelphia. Viola hired him to take pictures of the family's life before they leave.
- Bahni Turpin as Iona Peazant – Haagar's daughter, who is in love with St. Julian.
- M. Cochise Anderson as St. Julien Lastchild.
- Barbara-O as Yellow Mary – Another of Nana's granddaughters. She returns from the city for a last visit with her family, along with her friend Trula.
- Trula Hoosier as Trula – Yellow Mary's young friend.
- Umar Abdurrahman as Bilal Muhammad – A Muslim man and an important person in the island community.
- Cornell Royal as "Daddy Mac" Peazant – The oldest man in the family.
Making the Movie: How Daughters of the Dust Was Created
Developing the Idea
Julie Dash first thought of the film in 1975. She wanted to make a short film without talking. It would show a Gullah family getting ready to leave their Sea Island home for a new life in the North. She was inspired by her own father's Gullah family. They moved to New York City in the early 1900s. This was part of the Great Migration, when many African Americans moved from the Southern states.
The story grew for over 10 years. Julie Dash worked with Arthur Jafa, her cinematographer, to create a short film to help get funding.
Finding Support for the Film
At first, Hollywood movie companies said no to Julie Dash. This was going to be her first full-length movie. Dash felt they thought it was "too different." She believed it was hard for black women to get their films made in Hollywood. But Dash kept trying. Finally, she received $800,000 from PBS' American Playhouse in 1988.
Choosing the Actors
With the money secured, Dash and Casting Director Len Hunt chose many experienced actors. Some were known for working in independent films. Dash hired a mix of actors who were part of unions and those who were not. The non-union actors were often chosen because they knew the Gullah language. The main actors had to learn Gullah.
The Language and Story Style
To make the film feel real and poetic, the island characters speak in the Gullah language. Ronald Daise, an expert on Sea Island heritage, was the dialect coach. None of the actors knew Gullah when they started filming.
The story is told in a non-linear way. This means it doesn't go straight from beginning to end. Julie Dash explained that she wanted to tell the story in a different way. She felt a typical movie style wouldn't fit this film. She wanted the story to unfold like an African Gullah person would tell it. It shows different moments over a day and a half, coming back to ideas.
Filming on Location
Filming began on St. Helena Island and Hunting Island in South Carolina. The main filming lasted 28 days. Most of the time was spent shooting outdoors. This included the beach, rustic homes, and Nana's home near the graveyard. The sets, like cabins and a dock, were built using materials the Gullah people would have used. The women in the film wore long indigo-dyed and bright white dresses. Most of the close-up shots and dialogue in the film focus on the women and girls.
Pamela Ferrell was the main make-up artist and hair designer. She worked closely with Julie Dash to create the right look for each scene. She also worked with the actors to get the desired style.
During filming, the crew had to leave Hunting Island. A hurricane, Hurricane Hugo, was coming. The hurricane hit Charleston, South Carolina, causing a lot of damage. Because of weather, the cast often had to come to set very quickly.
Finishing the Film
Editing the film started in January 1990 and took almost a year. Julie Dash decided not to use subtitles for the Gullah language. She wanted the audience to feel fully immersed in the language. John Barnes composed the music. It mixed modern sounds with traditional instruments.
Releasing the Film
Daughters of the Dust was shown at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival. It was nominated for a top award and won the Excellence in Cinematography Award. Kino International released the film. It was the first feature film by an African-American woman to be shown in movie theaters across the United States.
A New Life: Restoration and Re-release
For its 25th anniversary, the Cohen Media Group restored Daughters of the Dust. It was shown at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival and then re-released in theaters.
When Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade came out in 2016, many people noticed something special. Critics pointed out that Lemonade had many visual references to Daughters of the Dust. Beyoncé's video showed young women in long white dresses walking toward a beach or sitting on a porch. This reminded people of scenes from the film. This connection brought new attention to Daughters of the Dust. It was featured in many news articles. With this new interest, Daughters of the Dust was re-released in theaters in November 2016.
Awards and Recognitions
- Sundance Film Festival – Won the Excellence in Cinematography Award, nominated for Grand Jury Prize, 1991
- Selected for National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, 2004
- Cascade Festival of African Films, Portland, Oregon – Excellence in Cinematography Award, 2005
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards – Special Award, 2016
Books About the Film
Julie Dash has written two books connected to Daughters of the Dust:
- Daughters of the Dust: The Making of an African American Woman's Film (1992). This book was co-written with Toni Cade Bambara and bell hooks. It includes the film's script.
- Daughters of the Dust: A Novel (1997). This is a sequel, or continuation, of the story. It takes place 20 years after the film. In the novel, a young student named Amelia goes to the Sea Islands. She meets her mother's relatives and learns about their culture.
