Four Women (1975 film)

Four Women is a 1975 independent film directed by Julie Dash. The film is a short, experimental piece, lasting approximately seven minutes. It's based on Nina Simone's song of the same name ("Four Women"). The film uses dance, poetry, and vibrant visual elements to portray the experiences and identities of four African American women, each representing a different archetype and facing different struggles related to race, gender, and class. The women are named Aunt Sarah, Saffronia, Sweet Thing, and Peaches. The film explores themes of resilience, strength, and the complex tapestry of Black womanhood in America. Dash uses a non-narrative approach, emphasizing symbolic representation and emotional impact over a traditional storyline. While relatively obscure compared to Dash's later work, Four Women is considered an important early film in her career and a significant contribution to Black independent cinema.