Don't run to your closest bankrupt Blockbuster video store or any video outlet in your vicinity. Instead, search for Drylongso, a hard to find but really powerful film Directed and Produced by Cauleen Smith (1998) online. Drylongso is a coming of age film that arrests the viewers attention within the first 5 seconds. The film is driven by an over arching narrative that has more sub plot's going in and out all at once. A conscious young woman balancing school, family, friends, relationships and herself. This has to be one of the only films to focus accurately on a visual artist minus the many grossly inaccurate films about artists such as Basquiat (1996) by Julian Schabel or Pollock, Frida, Lust for Life etc. Maybe Downtown 81 by Glenn O'Brien (1981) or Wild Style by Charlie Ahearn (1983) come close to real representations of a visual artist everyday life. Drylongso relies heavy on good acting and great character development and intense moments that reflect actual people and places minus the romanticizing. I don't believe that Salim Akil actually wrote or produced this feature and suggest IMDb verify this for future references. Drylongso is a learning tool for young women and men and it's also a great film marginalized like Killer of Sheep (1977) by Charles Burnett, Born in Flames (1983) by Lizzie Borden and Dark Matters (2010) by Monique Walton. Films that most people have unfortunately never heard or seen. I suggest anyone really go on Netflicks or where ever we find good films these days and watch this diamond in the rough.
