In director/writer/star Shawntay Dalon’s drama Depart From It, an unexpected death compels escort and drug mule Alexes Mows (played by Dalon) to go back to her hometown of Detroit to deal with situations she believed she’d escaped. She comes back after her friend Kellie (Zahirah Muhammad) is killed by an abusive boyfriend as she’s trying to leave him. Before she returns, she learns that a man who trafficked her, named Manny (Lamont Collins), has just been released from prison, and she knows she will have to face him. Her next drug drop will include Manny, and Alexes plots her revenge.
When childhood friend Marcus (Tony Boatwright), a police officer, tracks her down and offers to take her to the funeral, she throws him out of her house at gunpoint. It seems she has a dark, violent history with a great many people. After buying out a local gun runner, Alexes plans a tear of bloody vengeance to exact payback for Kellie and for herself. In the meantime, other people are looking for her for their own nefarious reasons.
“…an old friend’s death compels escort and drug mule Alexes to go back to Detroit…”
Alexes prepared for her encounter with Manny while trying to navigate the family and friends devastated by Kellie’s death and the wreckage of a life she left behind. While the dark storm clouds gather for her, Marcus tries to remind her of her faith in the church in her previous life. Her past catches up with her in multiple ways as she faces a crucial crossroads. Which impulse will determine her fate?
Depart From It uses low-budget production values to tell a gritty, compelling story. This becomes a clarifying advantage as the narrative is focused on the performances and the relationships between the characters. The soundtrack drives between the scenes, and while there is a soap opera vibe to the film, it all works in service to the story. Dalon herself does the heavy lifting performance, and nails every scene.
The few White characters in the film are one dimensional NPC’s, incarnations of specific evil compulsions. That’s an observation, not a criticism. It works here. Dalon tells a heart-wrenching tale of hate and vengeance given a chance to turn to grace, against all odds.
"…a heart-wrenching tale of hate and vengeance given a chance to turn to grace..."
