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At the turn of the century the Peazant family, a multigenerational community threatened with break-up, gathers for a reunion on an island off the coast of South Carolina, historically a place of entry for the European slave ships and a haven for self-emancipated Africans and indigenous peoples. Structured around the twin narratives of Nana, born into slavery, and that of the Unborn Child, this is a rites-of-passage story invoking Islam, Christianity and West African spiritual customs. It is not narrative-driven in the Western mode but is balletic, operatic, non-linear and based on the African oral tradition of the Griot (story-teller), drawing on the Gullah dialect. Dash was also inspired by the literature of African-American women writers. Cast includes Adisa Anderson, Cora Lee Day, Alva Rogers, Barbara-0 and Trula Hoosier.
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
313509
Language
English
Audience classification
PG
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Feminist motion pictures
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Africa, West - Social life and customs
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → African American women
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Women immigrants
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → African American women
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Feminism
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Feminist motion pictures
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → United States - Emigration and immigration
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Women immigrants
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Adjustment (Psychology)
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → African American women
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Feminist motion pictures
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Women immigrants
Feature films → Feature films - United States
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Adjustment (Psychology)
History → African American women
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)