Piotr Szyja Daughters of the Dust List/ very briefly comment on: types of music

The music is almost exclusively tribal we hear drums, sometimes song sang in a characteristic way. The sounds sometimes seem like a little bit modernized with a touch of modern tunes. Music does not accompany the action all the time. We hear it rarely. Mainly when there is a reference of some relation to Africa or African heritage, like slow motion scenes.

slow motion

There are many slow motion scenes. They mainly depict playing kids, at the beach, or visions of the unborn child, the narrator or scenes depicting the past life on a plantation. Also some other scenes, for example Nanas cry in one of the last scenes or Eli at the cemetery. Slow motion moments are really short and theyre accompanied by music. Theyre all somehow relate to reaching to African heritage.

self-referentiality (what objects and moments may stand for filmmaking?)

The self-referential function is performed by the photographer, who is there to document the family leaving the island. He behaves like a movie director, he walks around, arranges sets, ask people about different things, stages scenes etc.

 bodies/hair

All the people wear plain, normal clothes for the time. Especially women and girls, who almost exclusively wear white dresses. They all look western or Americanized. What makes the difference is hair. Girls and women have all kinds of different hair styles like various pigtails, many styles of braids, all kinds of dreadlocks etc. Its the hair that makes them original and gives them character, the bodies are all undistinguishable. Even with pregnant Eula we cannot always recognize her condition because of the dress.

traces of Africa

Music, songs and their lyrics. Tools and crafts. Jewelry, like bracelets etc. Omnipresence of amulets, totems and talismans. Ornaments, like on the quilts and blankets. Nanas pot. Mens games and gestures. Africa in a part of everyday life of those people.

conflicts

Nana and Hagar: on the importance of heritage and tradition, and on the place of old people in the community. Tradition vs. modernity. Nana and Viola: old beliefs vs. Christianity Yellow Mary and Hagar + Viola: on moral issues, Mary is a prostitute Eula and Eli: is the child a result of a rape or not One of Hagars daughter + Indian boy and Hagar: to stay on the island for love or not

 religions (and example(s) of syncretism)

Nana is the most prominent example of old African beliefs. She talks a lot about the past, the big role of ancestors and heritage. There is no specified cult there it is just a certain attitude for life. Viola is the example of monotheistic Christianity. She considers Nanas ways to be of the past and she is kind of a missionary. There also is a Muslim old men, whom we see as he prays with some kids. The best example of syncretism is a scene where Nana uses a string to tie a Bible to some amulet, and in this way unites most of the family.

Whose story is this?

On one level, the narration level, this is the story of Eulas unborn child, a little girl, who is a narrator and occasionally enter the action is a non-physical way. She tells us the story of how she was born and why she was born there. On the other level, this is the story of many different African American women who are put together in one place and have to face the same difficult situation. On yet another level this is a fragment of a Peazant family saga.