Muse Magazine

Saturday, February 09, 2008

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."

3 Comments:

Blogger Nikyatu. said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

9:54 PM  
Blogger Nikyatu. said...

Wow this is awesome that someone randomly blogged about my film. Thanks for the commentary.

films@nikyatu.com
www.nikyatu.com

9:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah, i really enjoyed this film particularly because my nigerian mentee has a very similar story. her mom owns a restaurant in the bronx and she contemplated wearing african cloth to her prom. in the end she went western, but it struck home because i know i was not strong enough in the pre-Kiara/Alek Wek days to wear my Africanness with pride.

12:26 PM  

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