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Parents' Guide to

Dolapo Is Fine

By Polly Conway, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Teen girl deals with hair stereotypes in lovely short film.

Movie PG 2020 15 minutes
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This poignant film begins with a long closeup of a Black girl's natural hair. Daisy, the advisor, starts out looking like an ally, as she doesn't want Dolapo to minimize herself with a nickname, but then bluntly states that her Afro is too much for the finance world. When Dollop (as she likes to be called) looks for help from her best friend, she doesn't understand: "My hair's curly too, and I don't need a wig." The film deftly shows Dolapo' struggle; she buys products, watches YouTube tutorials on how to get her hair "presentable," and ultimately debuts a straight wig at a school presentation. It goes terribly wrong but gives Dolapo the insight that she doesn't need to conform, and she's ultimately rewarded for bravely being herself. That's a lot to pack into 15 minutes, but Dolapo is Fine handles this big subject in a way that teen viewers will definitely relate to.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: August 22, 2020
  • On DVD or streaming: February 3, 2021
  • Director: Ethosheia Hylton
  • Inclusion Information: Female directors, Black directors
  • Studio: Apatan Studios
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 15 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG
  • Last updated: May 12, 2022

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