Daughters of the Dust 1991

Daughters of the Dust

Critics Consensus

Daughters of the Dust addresses its weighty themes with lovely visuals and a light, poetic touch, offering an original, absorbing look at a largely unexplored corner of American culture.

98%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 43

65%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,282

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Daughters of the Dust Photos

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Movie Info

At the dawn of the 20th century, a family in the Gullah community of coastal South Carolina -- former West African slaves who adopted many of their ancestors' Yoruba traditions -- suffers a generational split. Young Haagar (Kaycee Moore) wants to move to the mainland away from tradition-bound matriarch Nana (Cora Lee Day). Former prostitute Yellow Mary (Barbara-O) gets a cold shoulder when she returns to the island with her female lover, especially from her sister Viola (Cheryl Lynn Bruce).
  • Genre:
    drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Julie Dash
  • Producer:
    Julie Dash
  • Writer:
    Julie Dash
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $41.0K
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    American Playhouse, WMG Film, Geechee Girls
  • Sound Mix:
    Ultra-Stereo

Cast & Crew

Cora Lee Day
Nana Peazant
Alva Rogers
Eula Peazant
Adisa Anderson
Eli Peazant
Kaycee Moore
Haagar Peazant
Barbara O.
Yellow Mary
Eartha Robinson
Myown Peazant
Bahni Turpin
Iona Peazant
Cheryl Lynn Bruce
Viola Peazant
Tommy Redmond Hicks
Mr. Snead
Cornell "Kofi" Royal
Daddy Mac Peazant
Julie Dash
Director
Julie Dash
Screenwriter
Julie Dash
Producer
Arthur Jafa
Cinematographer
Joseph Burton
Film Editor
Amy Carey
Film Editor
John Barnes
Original Music
Kerry Marshall
Production Design
Michael Kelly Williams
Art Direction
Arline Burks Gant
Costume Designer
Show all Cast & Crew

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Critic Reviews for Daughters of the Dust

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (1)

View All Critic Reviews (43)

Audience Reviews for Daughters of the Dust

  • Oct 13, 2008
    A Top Ten Independent Film In My Book. Outstanding movie, a eye opener to some unkown history in the United States. Acting was incredable, Kino always has good productions. If you can find it buy it, Or Rent from Net Flix.
    Bruce B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 02, 2008
    A very unique film and a valuable addition to the canon of great films on slavery.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jan 23, 2008
    Director Julie Dash's first feature. This was named one of the 50 greatest movies by black directors in The Black Film Canon by slate.com. This picture offers a chance to observe a unique culture and place and time that as far as I know has rarely been portrayed in cinema. Therefore it also offers a chance for the audience to build skills of empathy. I am not familiar with anyone in the cast, but the matriarchal Peazant family with many mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and niece relationships are well portrayed. In 1902 on the islands off the coast of South Carolina African folk-ways were maintained and this was known as Gullah culture. There are characters who are still connected to African pagan customs and magic, characters who have embraced Islam's influence, and characters who have received some education near white society on the mainland who have been converted to Christianity, and they all live together in relatively close quarters on this island. The narration is often poetically trying to describe memories. Visually it is full of earthy beach tones and many dreamy sequences.
    Byron B Super Reviewer
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