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Diary of an African Nun

1977 · 16 min
Directed by Julie Dash · USA · American Independent Cinema · LA Rebellion
Short filmDrama

Where to watch in the United States: Free: Kanopy. Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB; availability changes.

Cast

Barbara O Marnita Carraway Fred Carraway Donald Carraway Jr. Sherry Madden Barbara Young

Credits

Written by: Alice Walker

Plot

An Ugandan nun is consumed by fear and doubt about her decision to take the solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Her anguish intensifies night after night as she lies on a hard bed in her small room at the convent and listens to the rhythmic, beckoning drums of her village.

Sinekatalog’s take

A nun at a convent is torn between her vows and the beckoning drums of her home village. The short is stark, intimate and rich in interior tension. A haunting piece for viewers drawn to spiritual conflict on screen.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

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Ratings

IMDb: 7.0 / 10 (345 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

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