Back to Natural: A Documentary Film (2019) User Reviews

A complex and fraught issue made accessible and fun

[jeffreedpenn · 9/10 · 2 March 2020]

I won't say that there has not been media (movies, books, episodes of television programs) dedicated to addressing the issue of black women's natural hair and the ways that it is villified, marginalized, stigmatized or otherwise not celebrated by both the mainstream and within the African diaspora. It seems these days that there is a lot of work being done to redress this historic wrong and bring natural hair and hairstyles into its proper perspective. Back to Natural furthers this work with a relaxed and informative style that is down to earth and filled with interviews and conversations with real people at various points along their natural hair journey. I found it to be an excellent intro back to loving their hair for my two African-American daughters who don't often see celebratory messages in mainstream media but are finding more role models (from Tracee Ellis Ross to Lupita Nyong'o to Zendaya to Marsai Martin, etc.) as time goes by. We're heading in the right direction and B2N is in this vanguard. Recommended!

Embrace your natural beauty

[kathleensisaac · 10/10 · 8 February 2020]

Important and timely documentary that traces the history of the relationship that members of the African diaspora have with their hair, connecting to the personal and societal influences on the culture of beauty and hair. A must-see!

Inspiring! A real eye-opener!

[gracesacro · 10/10 · 8 February 2020]

A real eye-opener, especially for those who have not experienced this kind of racism. This film has already inspired change!

Thought provoking

[onyx-71079 · 10/10 · 9 February 2020]

I have watched this film twice and have learned something new each time. This documentary does a fantastic job integrating news, diverse interviews, and beautiful images to narrate a long standing concerns for Black people in the United States and in other countries. Recent headlines about young Black people not being able to compete in their chosen sport or march in their graduation and older people being discriminated in the job search shows us that people wearing their natural hair still face discrimination and harassment. This film aims to highlight the historical and contemporary issues Black people are facing while also celebrating the beauty and uniqueness of Black hair.

Loved the film! Personal, historical, educational, empowering -- absolutely timely!

[sarahakhter · 10/10 · 8 February 2020]

The film illuminates how hair has been a social, political and personal battleground between the forces of oppression and the freedom to be. Educational for those who do not know the incredible terrain of Black hair, cathartic and healing for those who do, empowering for all.

A well-documented subject

[majokw-26169 · 10/10 · 8 February 2020]

This project was much-needed, well-executed, educational and entertaining. 'Back to Natural' speaks to many generations and ethnic groups who will see themselves in this film whilst being able relate to their own experiences with hair. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Important, Multi-cultural Perspectives!

[amj-50832 · 10/10 · 9 February 2020]

The biggest thing I appreciated about this film was that it acknowledges that Black folx aren't a monolith from the jump. The experiences and perspectives featured literally span the globe and touch upon multiple eras.

I'm also glad to see a blend of academic and lived contributions in this conversation. An academic-only approach can't really get to the heart of the matter but "anecdotes" are so often dismissed. Here we have historical evidence, personal stories, statistics, activism, and legal data all woven throughout.

From a cinematic perspective, I think the editing was great - it felt like the participants were actually in conversation with each other, even though we know they were interviewed separately. Appropriate use of archival footage and images always makes me smile on the inside, so I really loved that.

I'd love to see all these participants -and more- actually come together to continue this conversation, especially in light of more recent political, legal, and cultural developments.

Great Documentary

[jasonmassey-25750 · 10/10 · 8 November 2023]

Man of African decent grow up in the west in the USA I called the Babylon plantation America lol. But this deep. The self hate about our hair came from the European colonializers. African or Afro texture hair 🤔 is beautiful. Afro hair is versatile you can wear Afro, braids, twist, Locs, curling it waving it straighting it. Our hair has always been policed 🚔 in the west. I say embrace your God giving natural hair especially women of African decent. Hair has allways had special meaning in African culture. It symbolizes what African ethnic group you came from your spirituality. Doing hair style for ceremony such as wedding holidays. Your hair is connected you to nature, God, spiritual world, ancestors and your culture.

Rather than celebrating natural hair, it is a 70 minute whine-fest

[random-70778 · 18 December 2019]

Really I was expecting something for my kids. Instead the usual aggrievement and blame. When will we learn to stop externalizing everything as if we had no autonomy at all? As has been noted when Chris Rock made the much better "Good Hair": "few people of any race wear completely natural hair. If they did, we would be a nation of Unabombers."