With its turbulent political history and rich Afro-Caribbean culture, Haiti has long captured the imagination of filmmakers. Most films of current interest were made after the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986. They trace the struggle to uproot the old order, the rise and fall of President Aristide, U.S. interference in Haitian politics, and the Haitian popular movement. The most recent films, mainly short online videos, document the perilous aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
The following is a small sample of the hundreds of films that touch in some way on Haitian life. Useful in schools, these films can also be screened at community events raising funds for earthquake relief. In presenting films to viewers, production dates should be noted. The political situation in Haiti has evolved rapidly since 1986, and each film provides a snapshot of the country as it existed at a given moment in time.
Films on the Political History of Haiti
- The Agronomist (2003). Profile of Haitian journalist and human rights activist Jean Dominique, who was assassinated in 2000. Directed by Jonathan Demme. Original score by Wyclef Jean. 90 minutes.
- Bitter Cane (1983). Award-winning documentary on the history of Haiti from the 1804 revolution through the U.S. Marine occupation and the repressive regimes of the Duvaliers. 75 minutes.
- Dreams of Democracy (1988). Filmed a year after Baby Doc’s overthrow, this musically rich film reflects the Haitian people’s hopes for an uprooting of the old order. Directed by Jonathan Demme. 52 minutes.
- Haiti: Killing the Dream (1992). Looks at U.S. intervention in Haiti, the popular movement that overthrew Jean-Claude Duvalier, the rise of President Aristide, and the 1991 coup. 60 minutes.
- Man by the Shore (L’homme sur le Quais) (1995). A political thriller set in 1960s Haiti under the regime of Papa Doc. Directed by Raoul Peck. 105 minutes.
- Mission to Haiti (1994). A human rights observer delegation from New England visits Haiti during the early 1990s. 20 minutes.
- North-South Monologue (1982). Documents the inequalities of Haiti’s economic relationship with the United States and Canada. 57 minutes.
- Zantray ’88: Children of Haitian Tradition (1988). PBS documentary on events in Haiti immediately after the fall of Duvalier in 1986. 60 minutes.
Films on Grassroots Activism and Development Work in Haiti
- Building Bridges to Haiti’s Popular Movement (1994). Portrait of the Peasant Movement of Papaye and its founder, Chavannes Jean-Baptiste. 120 minutes.
- Dr. Farmer’s Remedy (2008). 60 Minutes interview with Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health, on the organization’s medical work in Haiti and other countries. DVD, 13 minutes.
- Haiti, a Forgotten Nation. An introduction to Haiti and the liberating development work of the Lutheran World Federation. 30 minutes.
- The Lambi Fund of Haiti offers several short online videos about grassroots development in Haiti. They include Makonen Fos Nou/Weaving Our Strength, Pigs — Haitian Bank Accounts, and Reforestation and Clean Water in Haiti.
- The Other Haiti (1993). Documentary on the grassroots peasant movement in Haiti, focusing on the Peasant Movement of Papaye. 58 minutes.
- Poto Mitan: Haitian Women, Pillars of the Global Economy (2009). Follows five Haitian women who are challenging exploitation through labor activism. Soundtrack of contemporary Haitian music. Narrated by Edwidge Danticat. 50 minutes.
Films on Haitian Culture and Religion
- Black Dawn (1978). Colorful animated film uses Haitian art to tell the story of Haiti’s independence. 20 minutes.
- Dadou Pasquet: Haiti’s Ambassador to the World of Music (1994). Short video on Haitian musician Dadou Pasquet. 7 minutes.
- The Divine Horsemen (1951). Classic film on Vodou, Haiti’s indigenous religion. 60 minutes.
- Haitian Song (1982). Portrait of daily life in a rural Haitian village. 50 minutes.
- Legacy of the Spirits (1985). Study of Vodou faith and practice, filmed in New York City’s Haitian community. 52 minutes.
Films on Haitian Migration
- Black Sugar (1989). Documentary on the batays, camps for Haitian sugarcane cutters in the Dominican Republic. 58 minutes.
- Haiti Quebec (1986). A look at the racism facing Haitian immigrants in Quebec. 57 minutes.
- Haitian Corner (1988). A refugee from Duvalierist terror, who spent years in the notorious Ft. Dimanche prison, resettles in Brooklyn, New York. Directed by Raoul Peck. 90 minutes.
- Haitian Pilgrimage (1992). A Haitian American family from Massachusetts travels back to Haiti. 29 minutes.
- Taxi Sans Detour (1988). The lives of Haitian-born taxi drivers in Montreal. In French, no subtitles. 57 minutes.
Films from the Ciné Institute
The Ciné Institute is Haiti’s film school. Its building, in the town of Jacmel, was destroyed in the earthquake but the students were spared. Since then, the students have been providing on-the-scene reporting of earthquake recovery efforts. Their short films can be viewed on the Ciné Institute website.
Teachers may also be interested in books about Haiti for elementary/middle schools and high schools.
