Cinema
Bitter Cane
Canne amère
Jacques Arcelin · 1983
Synopsis
Filmed in secret under the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier, this documentary analyses the exploitation of the Haitian people and the foreign domination they endure. It goes back to the revolution of 1804 and the occupation by the Marines, then leads the viewer from the coffee plantations of the mountains to the American subcontracting workshops of the capital, and to the exodus of thousands of Haitians who left in search of the “American mirage”.
Context
According to Haïti Liberté, Ben Dupuy's historical and economic analysis forms the framework of the film, which Kim Ives produced in sixteen millimetres; it took six years of work, according to the Canada-Haïti site. The film was produced by Haïti Films and distributed in the United States by the Cinema Guild. IndieCollect completed its restoration in 2024, and BAM in New York screened it the same year with subtitles.
Who it is for
A documentary of an hour and a quarter, in Creole and English, viewable in its restored, subtitled version.
Prizes and reception
Awarded at several festivals, according to the African Film Festival of New York and BAM, who regard it as a documentary classic.
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