Drylongso

Drylongso – meaning ordinary or commonplace in an old African American dialect - is an independent drama film from 1998. Directed by Cauleen Smith, the indie flick goes to great lengths to showcase the exceptional in ordinary lives, primarily those of African-Americans living in urban lower-income neighborhoods. Starring Toby Smith, April Barnett, and Will Power, Drylongso tells the story of triumph over adversity, the power of friendship, and the persistent struggle for identity and belonging.

The focal point of the movie is Pica Sullivan, poignantly portrayed by Toby Smith. Pica, named after a little-known medical condition denoting a craving for non-nutritional substances like clay or dirt, is a young woman living in an impoverished neighborhood of Oakland, California. The name sets the tone of her character: overshadowed by a socially determined assumption of inherent inferiority yet brimming with idiosyncrasy and quiet rebellion.

When she enrolls in a photography class, Pica uses the opportunity to express herself, revealing a previously suppressed creative side. With an old Polaroid camera, she sets about photographing what she perceives to be an endangered species -the "endangered" Black men of her community- attempting to capture their essence and struggle. This develops into a haunting portrayal of violence, vulnerability, and the transience of life. The camera becomes an instrument through which Pica finds her purpose and voice.

April Barnett delivers an impressive performance as Tobi, a person whom Pica meets by chance. Tobi is dealing with her abusive boyfriend and has taken to disguising herself as a man for protection. The unlikely friendship between Pica and Tobi forms the emotional crux of the narrative. This relationship and their shared experiences serve as a platform for the film to address deeper societal issues, most notably gender violence and the systematic emotional neglect and destruction of the African-American masculine.

Will Power plays Malik, a charismatic gentleman who becomes a key figure in Pica's photography project. He introduces elements of innocence and warmth into the story while subtly furthering the narrative's exploration of the Crisis of the Black Male - a central sociological concept within the African American community referring to the disproportionately high adversities faced by African American males in the United States.

The film balances intense emotionality with an almost documentarian attention to detail. This is far from accidental; director Cauleen Smith effectively employs documentary aesthetics and an intimate visual language to underscore the realities faced by the lifestyles depicted in the movie. The detailed portrayal of everyday life, the hard-hitting dialogues, the poignant monologues – everything aligns to form narratives within narratives, all set in the backdrop of a thoughtfully captured cultural landscape.

Drylongso stands as a vivid exploration of intersectional identity, mediating on race, gender, and class. The thought-provoking screenplay, the down-to-earth performances, and the insightful dialogue collectively contribute to creating an immersive cinematic experience. Every conversation in the movie feels necessary, not a word wasted in the translation of the narrative.

The movie enjoys a somewhat avant-garde status within independent cinema, not merely for its unconventionally captivating narrative but also for its technical choices. The film is shot on grainy 16mm film that adds an unmatched authenticity to Pica's journey and the depiction of the urban setting. The visual style, the hand-held camera work, and the general rawness of the footage complement the story's grittiness and resilience.

The typical stereotypes of African American communities proved to be dusted aside in Drylongso, enabling the director to delve into deeper, often untouched realms of their existence: their mental health struggles, their weary battles with social and economic marginalization, and their constant grappling for a stable identity in a world that systematically undercuts their aspirations.

To sum it up, Drylongso is a visual ode to survival, resilience, and identity in the face of socio-economic marginalization. Its raw, intense, and insightful commentary on social structures and systemic biases makes it relevant even today, which is a testament to the movie's staying power. Through Pica, Tobi, and Malik, it allows audiences to see, understand, and begin to empathize with the often overlooked segments of society – an essential step toward fostering greater social and racial justice.