A delightful documentary look at the life of a 70-year-old African American women who earns a small income from a job as a night-time toilet attendant at a wealthy hotel in an area frequented by the “beautiful people”. The film contrasts her life here on the richer side of town with her more mundane existence in ahousing estate for senior citizens and, as well, provides an account of her life from childhood through the use of stills and her own colorful commentary. The film touches on many issues: the Depression era in America, poverty, race relations, city and rural life, old age, loneliness, popular music and family life. Featuring Joan Williams.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
323719
Language
English
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Biographical films
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Women - Interviews
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → African American women
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → United States - Social life and customs
Documentary → Documentary films - United States
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → African American women
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Aged women
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Cross-cultural studies
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Cross-cultural studies
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → African American women
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Aged women
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Aged women
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Bathrooms
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)
16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)