Experiencing Interruptions?

Roots

Hannah re-experiences the traumatic memories of her childhood when she enters a dreamlike memory of her mother doing her hair in her bedroom. The childhood bedroom turns into a horror-like lab when her mother, controlled by a white figure, experiments on her hair. In the present day she tries to make her black hair “acceptable” but becomes frustrated when she is unable to meet society’s standards. She breaks down and looks at the reflection of her true self. Faced with who she truly is, what society wants from her, and the trauma from her past, she must find not only herself but the future she wants for all black women.

  • Allison Fleur
    Director
  • Jerique Bernard
    Producer
  • Allison Fleur
    Writer
  • Hannah Tayla
    Key Cast
    "Hannah"
  • Lernice Parker
    Key Cast
    "Mother"
  • Roland du Preez
    Key Cast
    "Doctor"
  • Cleveland Hopp
    Production Design
  • Seth Martheze
    Cinematographer
  • Kendra Rhode
    Sound Design
  • Lamees Ismail
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student, Other
  • Genres:
    Horror, Experimental, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 17, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    250 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University Of Cape Town
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director - Allison Fleur
Director Statement

Researching for this film is the first time I knew the concept of Black Hair Dysmorphia existed, even though I’ve lived with it for 21 years. There is no google definition for Black Hair Dysmorphia but there is one for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) which is when someone has an obsessive focus on a perceived defect in their appearance. The difference with having Black Hair Dysmorphia about your “natural” hair is that it’s not perceived, it’s taught. For years colonial society has taught black women that the hair that grows from our sculp is undesirable and needs to be fixed. To protect them from this critical gaze, black women in turn teach their daughters the very same thing. This leads to severe emotional and social distress. We don’t talk enough about the trauma black women endure for their hair to be deemed acceptable by society and what this does to how we see ourselves. Roots, however, sheds light on this experience by visualising the trauma we have and connecting it to societal injustices. A lot of stories are made about people of colour but not a lot are made for people of colour. While this will be an educational experience for those who don’t experience Black Hair Dysmorphia it also aims to be a cathartic experience for black women. Our hair has always been used as a tool to blend in, or as a political statement to stand out, but never as a way of expressing our love for ourselves.