User Reviews

Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the planet, is at the center of this magnificent documentary by Charles Najman, who chronicles a brief history of the country. Haiti's by Mr. Najman and the many influential Haitians that speak to the camera. 200 years of history is examined. The emphasis is in the recent turmoil in the country that saw its elected president Jean Bertrand Aristide leave his land in shame, and what most people perceived was his failure as a leader.

It becomes clear that most of the problems in this unhappy land has been caused by the ruling oligarchy, composed by light skinned blacks who dominate everything in the country. We are taken to the past when Francois Duvalier was its ruler. Mr. Duvalier, a ruthless dictator, died in power. His son, the horrible Baby Doc succeeded him.

When all seemed lost, the figure of charismatic Jean Bertrand Aristide arose amid the chaos created when the young Duvalier was deposed from power and went to France in exile. Instead of fulfilling his early promise Aristide had his own plans and ended up being a hated man because the way he also indulged himself and the family in the splendor of his predecessors.

Haiti deserved better. The criminal poverty in which most people live becomes more evident as one is taken for a ride in the capital of Port-au-Prince and in the country side. Aristide didn't fulfill the dreams of most Haitians as Mr. Najman tells us in this amazing documentary.

A great documentary relating the escapades of Haiti since 1804. Most of it

concentrates on the Aristide year's in power, but gives a great overview of the REAL problems that have plagued the country since it's independence. A most see. Najman's use of pro and con of Aristide's choice does illustrate the issues that the country has been facing for over 200 years. The film also explains how the ongoing oligarchy has been in power for ever and will be in power for a long time to come.... having the support of the US who is opposed to any popular/ or let's say freely elected government. The movie was shot during the first few weeks

of this year (2004) and offers a great insight on the actual events regarding the status of Aristide as president and the "in limbo" state Haiti is now in.

I thought the film was dishonest. While the US Left may not have examined Aristide as honestly as it might, the documentary presents a pretty simplified analysis of a very, very complicated history, using the analysis primarily of Aristide dissidents and a European scholar. Nowhere do the external forces those governing Haiti wrestled with get seriously addressed. In fact, one commentator ridiculously suggests that after his return Aristide could have asked for and received anything he wanted from any world leader. The film demonstrates, despite its intentions, the ways in which some forms of democracy and dissent flourished under Aristide, yet how, unlike the unelected Sandinista and Castro regimes, the state proved unable to change economic conditions. But it ends up being one more contribution to the notion of Black incompetence instead of a thoughtful examination of the challenges of governing small states.