Diary of an African Nun (1977) dir. Julie Dash

Made during her tenure at UCLA, Julie Dashs Diary of an African Nun sees the young director fully in control of a poetic and political style whose influence would ripple across cinema. The early short from one of the most influential members of the diverse crowd of LAcentric filmmakers working throughout the 70s known as the LA Rebellion traces a cloistered nuns wavering faith as shes caught in a deep act of religious selfreflection. Composed of stunning landscape shots, delicately singled closeups and the eternal grace of Barbara O. Jones visage, Diary of an African Nuns beautiful arrangement belies its bleaker themes. As the film maneuvers away from its peaceful opening into an extended moment of crisis in the loneliness of her quarters, the camerawork becomes enveloped in Jones unraveling. In pointed lyricism, Dash channels the tides of torment that keep the nun from sleeping soundly, producing an experience akin to prayer that swings between moments of bliss and doubt.