FILMS: Channel surfing: Sitting on the couch recovering from Fashion Week

We're sitting on the couch, happily not at a runway show, and happen upon a random short film mixed in with the movie offerings on HBO onDemand. While NY1 and NYC-TV are running recaps of New York Fashion Week, this short called "African Booty Scratcher," looks at a different kind of wardrobe situation: a high school senior struggles with her African roots (she's first generation American) while trying to find a dress for prom. Her West African mom, who owns a restaurant, makes her a traditional dress from her region for the big night, the daughter balks. Later, while helping her parents out in the restaurant, a neighborhood knucklehead walks in and asks for chicken wings only to find out the place only serves stews and jollof rice. He has a fit and starts ranting about the differences between Africans and black Americans. The scene is a bit forced and slightly preachy, but the short film, written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu, is really sweet and poignant overall. It's also cool to see it sitting in an HBO lineup that includes blockbusters like "Alien" and "Matrix Revolutions."