"Drylongso" is an African-American expression meaning "ordinary," or "getting by with very little." The film Drylongso, which premiered in the American Spectrum series of the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, is the story of a young woman in just that situation. Pica is a woman who can't find meaning in her own life. Living in Oakland, CA, she's tired of her job at an illegal poster distribution center. Unable to complete a photography project on herself at school, she grabs a Polaroid camera and decides to document the existence of young black men, whom she feels are a breed on the verge of becoming extinct. Through this project, she meets many colorful characters, including Tobi, a black woman dressed as a man. Pica also suffers after the death of her boyfriend. Through it all, Pica learns the importance of her own existence and finds her own place in the world. This film is a powerful tribute to the strength of the African-American culture.
by Arthur Borman
synopsis
