Haïti: la fin des chimères?...

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.