Dawn Dusk (2024)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

Chelli Look has lived a troubled life. After the loss of both her best friend and her older sister, she has struggled to move past the seemingly constant grief that has befallen her. Now a leather bag designer, she has found a passion that has allowed her to thrive. Dawn Dusk follows Chelli as she tells the world her story and shows off her impeccable talent. 

It feels that the majority of the content in Dawn Dusk is very pointed, and it leaves out a great portion of the movie-watching world. This isn’t necessarily an insult, just more of an observation, as I believe that this team is well aware of who they have the potential to reach throughout the course of their film. They know that the individuals willing to sit down and watch Dawn Dusk is a niche group, and that this film will likely greatly appeal to them, enticing every step of the way. 

With all of that being said, there are certainly moments when Dawn Dusk extends itself beyond a documentary about fashion. Themes of death and domestic violence fill the space on screen from time to time, and in these moments Dusk Dawn becomes bigger–something that viewers can latch onto and truly appreciate. Chelli is a talented designer, and she has a compelling story–but to the naked eye this is, for all intents and purposes, a story about fashion, and that will struggle to appeal to the masses. For those willing to take the plunge, they will find something greater buried beneath the surface, something far more compelling than what they initially believed this film to be. 

The story of Chelli’s fashion journey is quite linear, though it is broken up from time to time in order for her to tell us the traumas of her past. While it’s constantly broken up throughout the film, the primary narrative, the one that follows her fashion design never becomes fractured. This is a testament to the storytelling ability of Directors Sarah Blue Winslow and Jason Gerber as they pace the film beautifully and allow viewers the opportunity to remain focused and follow Chelli’s story. The way in which the story of Chelli’s past is told forces viewers to the edge of their seats, giving them a reason to stick around. 

What I initially believed to be a simple documentary about fashion quickly transitioned into something bigger and more powerful. Dawn Dusk may be a tough sell for many potential viewers, but I promise you that it’s worth your time. The story (and the film as a whole) is far more compelling than I could have imagined, and I truly enjoyed my time with this film. 

Directed by Sarah Blue Winslow & Jason Gerber. 

Starring Chelli Look, Dave Look, Peg Harms, Michael Harms, Jennifer Smith Tapp, Savannah White, etc. 

7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE