In Shatara Michelle Ford's second film, Dreams in Nightmares, the filmmaker presents a poignant insight into the Black queer lived experience in the United States. This film, despite the continuous threat facing Black queer individuals, portrays loving, resilient communities. Through alliances amongst friends, chosen families, or neighbors, these clusters of happiness offer a gentle intermission from their typically harsh realities.
Debuting at the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, the film narrates a two-week adventure where three Black femmes set out to find a friend who has disappeared. The group embarks on a quest from Brooklyn to Iowa, turning the journey into a road of personal introspection and self-discovery.
Known for challenging audience perspectives in her debut film, Test Pattern, Ford continues to push the boundaries of storytelling in her latest work, Dreams in Nightmares. Ford crafts a unique atmosphere for her appealing characters, highlighting her unique style through a mix of comedy and horror, past, and present, dreams and realities.
Working at the heart of road movie tradition, Ford transforms an American journey into a mirror of sorts, forcing the characters and the viewers to confront their realities. The film addresses the uncomfortable history of African American travel in the U.S, serving as a stark reminder of years of escape from violence in search of economic freedom.
While the plot of Dreams in Nightmares may leave some audiences wanting, the heart of the narrative lies in Ford's intricate characters and their exploration of multiple facets of American life. The film, at just over two hours, provides an alluring and immersive journey into the lives of Z, Tasha, and Lauren, albeit leaving some feeling that these characters, much like dreams, vanish all too quickly.
