Turusma: A Young Man's Journey to College

When Turusma's father died, he passed the mantle on to his elementary-school-aged African-American son to take care of his mother and sister as the “man of the house.” Turusma has taken that responsibility seriously ever since, concentrating on his education even as the challenges and distractions of the street threatened to make him another statistic. Although an ethnically disproportionate number of black youths drop out of high school, Turusma had his sights set on a college education, and this short documentary interviews his teachers, friends, and family to sketch a profile of a young man who is accepted by all seven colleges to which he applies, ultimately choosing a state university for financial reasons, and the opportunity to be close to his family. While this might be a useful springboard for discussion, especially for college-bound minority youth, the shaky-camera-shot Turusma, while sincerely made, has no clear narrative focus, nor does the viewer ever really get to know Turusma or his world beyond the surface. Optional. Aud: H. (E. Gieschen)