A nun in Uganda is consumed by fear and doubt about her decision to take…
Four Women
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
In this experimental short by Julie Dash — which is one of the first experimental films by a Black woman filmmaker — dancer Linda Martina Young interprets the same-titled ballad by Nina Simone and embodies the spirits of four women: Aunt Sarah, Saffronia, Sweet Thing and Peaches. These women represent common stereotypes of Black women attempting to survive in America.
Citation
Main credits
Dash, Julie (film director)
Ashley, Linda (performer)
Simone, Nina (performer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Bob Maxwell; music, Nina Simone.
Distributor subjects
Dance; African American; Women; StereotypesKeywords
WEBVTT
1
00:00:19.544 --> 00:00:24.211
(woman vocalizing)
♪ Oh ♪
2
00:00:38.511 --> 00:00:43.178
(woman vocalizing)
♪ Oh ♪
3
00:01:02.704 --> 00:01:07.129
(woman vocalizing)
♪ Oh ♪
4
00:01:07.129 --> 00:01:12.129
(Native group singing)
(Native group chanting)
5
00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:24.120
(woman trilling)
(Native group singing)
6
00:01:29.707 --> 00:01:34.331
(woman trilling)
(Native group singing)
7
00:01:34.331 --> 00:01:36.526
(whip cracking)
8
00:01:36.526 --> 00:01:40.109
(whip cracking repeatedly)
9
00:01:47.314 --> 00:01:52.314
(woman whimpering)
(water trickling)
10
00:01:55.617 --> 00:02:00.617
(group moaning)
(water trickling)
11
00:02:09.144 --> 00:02:14.144
(water trickling)
(woman wailing)
12
00:02:15.833 --> 00:02:20.833
(group moaning)
(water trickling)
13
00:02:21.212 --> 00:02:26.212
(gentle jazz music)
(\"Four Women\" by Nina Simone)
14
00:02:32.034 --> 00:02:37.034
♪ My skin is black ♪
15
00:02:37.916 --> 00:02:42.916
♪ My arms are long ♪
16
00:02:46.357 --> 00:02:51.357
♪ My hair is wooly ♪
17
00:02:51.968 --> 00:02:56.968
♪ My back is strong ♪
18
00:02:57.012 --> 00:03:02.012
♪ Strong enough to take the pain ♪
19
00:03:02.697 --> 00:03:07.697
♪ Inflicted again and again ♪
20
00:03:08.495 --> 00:03:12.521
♪ What do they call me ♪
21
00:03:12.521 --> 00:03:17.521
♪ My name is Aunt Sarah ♪
22
00:03:19.683 --> 00:03:22.523
♪ My name ♪
23
00:03:22.523 --> 00:03:25.510
♪ Is Aunt Sarah ♪
24
00:03:25.510 --> 00:03:30.510
♪ Aunt Sarah ♪
25
00:03:31.215 --> 00:03:35.996
♪ My skin is yellow ♪
26
00:03:35.996 --> 00:03:40.996
♪ My hair is long ♪
27
00:03:43.750 --> 00:03:48.339
♪ Between two worlds ♪
28
00:03:48.339 --> 00:03:53.167
♪ I do belong ♪
29
00:03:53.167 --> 00:03:57.655
♪ My father was rich and white ♪
30
00:03:57.655 --> 00:04:02.655
♪ He forced my mother late one night ♪
31
00:04:04.597 --> 00:04:09.597
♪ And what do they call me ♪
32
00:04:09.862 --> 00:04:14.862
♪ My name is Saffronia ♪
33
00:04:15.999 --> 00:04:19.249
♪ My name is Saffronia ♪
34
00:04:24.716 --> 00:04:27.799
(light, jazzy music)
35
00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:38.000
♪ My skin is tan ♪
36
00:04:39.049 --> 00:04:44.049
♪ My hair is fine ♪
37
00:04:46.203 --> 00:04:51.203
♪ My hips invite you ♪
38
00:04:51.903 --> 00:04:56.903
♪ My mouth like wine ♪
39
00:04:57.712 --> 00:05:01.934
♪ Whose little girl am I ♪
40
00:05:01.934 --> 00:05:06.934
♪ Anyone who has money to buy ♪
41
00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:12.731
♪ What do they call me ♪
42
00:05:12.731 --> 00:05:17.731
♪ My name is Sweet Thing ♪
43
00:05:19.163 --> 00:05:22.580
♪ My name is Sweet Thing ♪
44
00:05:26.062 --> 00:05:29.645
(dark, driving jazz music)
45
00:05:46.514 --> 00:05:51.514
♪ My skin is brown ♪
46
00:05:52.245 --> 00:05:57.245
♪ My manner is tough ♪
47
00:05:57.996 --> 00:06:02.996
♪ I\'ll kill the first mother I see ♪
48
00:06:03.835 --> 00:06:08.835
♪ My life has been rough ♪
49
00:06:08.927 --> 00:06:13.927
♪ I\'m awfully bitter these days ♪
50
00:06:14.693 --> 00:06:19.693
♪ Because my parents were slaves ♪
51
00:06:20.047 --> 00:06:22.865
♪ What do they call me ♪
52
00:06:22.865 --> 00:06:25.579
(dramatic jazz music)
53
00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:28.662
♪ My name is Peaches ♪
54
00:06:31.926 --> 00:06:35.593
(dark, dramatic jazz music)
55
00:06:39.392 --> 00:06:42.392 line:15%
(gentle jazz music)
56
00:07:21.890 --> 00:07:24.723
(soft jazz music)
Distributor: Women Make Movies
Length: 10 minutes
Date: 1975
Genre: Expository
Language: English / English subtitles
Grade: College, Adults
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
Public Performance Rights are available for this title.
Please log in to your public library's site to view this film.