Pre-Earthquake Haiti Documentary Chronicles The Strength and Struggles of the Haitian People

"Haiti: Triumph, Sorrow and the Struggle of a People" Chronicles a Powerful, Adversity-Stricken People in Months Leading Up to Devastating Natural Disaster."

BOSTON, August 6, 2010 – As the recent devastating earthquake has put a stark spotlight on Haiti - a relatively unknown island nation in America’s shadows - a new documentary, "Haiti: Triumph, Sorrow and the Struggle of a People", chronicles the history and pre-earthquake strife of Haiti’s people. The film is Haitian-born film maker Jonas Nosile’s gripping look into both Haiti’s past and the state of the Haitian soul today. It also gives its audience a better understanding of the lack of infrastructure and political instability that has left Haiti so helpless and annihilated following the quake.

The film traces Haitian history from its early successful struggles for independence through to its contemporary – less victorious - battles with poverty. Nosile poses tough questions about the degree of Haitian’s responsibility for their dilemma. Will this island nation find a way to break with the legacy of its tragic past? Will the resilient spirit of her people be enough to overcome the obstacles and catastrophes facing the country today? The answers may surprise it's audience.

“God is almighty, but the Devil is mighty.” Film interviewee Mr. Jean B., Vodouisan

The film is comprised of interviews from all walks of life and social status: University scholars, evangelical pastors, Voodoo priests/vodouisants and the Haitians in the streets who battle poverty on a daily basis. Overall, it’s a sad story to be told. The Haitian people have shaken the feather of slavery, chased away European domination and helped free American and Latin American peoples. Yet, Mother Nature seems to show no mercy on them, and these same people have found themselves the victims of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, killing over 200,000 of its people.

“Bill Clinton was quoted as saying Haitians are a stubborn people. I feel theurge as a Haitian to bring to light the strength and fortitude of my people,” said Nosile. “However, Haitians will ultimately have to change their inner selves and have to arrive at an awakening to stop their self destructive behavior.”

Filming began in early 2008. While the film is not entirely about the recent earthquake, the natural disaster took place during final production of the documentary and offered an additional glimpse and almost eerie retrospection into the strength of the Haitian people and their ability to endure and triumph in the face of adversity.

Jonas Nosile - Producer, Writer, Director

With the desire to bring to light the fortitude of his people, in
November of 2008, the Haitian-born film maker Jonas Nosile put
together a small team and traveled to Haiti to start filming a
documentary. He began talking to people in different walks of life in
order to get an overall point of view, but by the time the film neared
completion, the January 2010 earthquake hit, which forced him to go back to the editing room to reflect the current situation.  “This film will serve as a reminder, thus an awakening of the strength and the daily struggles of the Haitian people” says Nosile.

Tim Labonte - Editor

Tim Labonte is  an award winning director, producer, cinematographer and editor. Passionate about filmmaking from a young age, Tim became an official selection in the 2004 Trigger Street Film Festival his sophomore year of college. He continued his education and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from Rhode Island College in 2007, winning two Film Talent Award scholarships, and with the opportunity to be taught under Academy and Emmy Award winning

Tom Ohanian, Academy Award nominee Jim Wolpaw, and
Thomas Cobb, award winning author of the novel CRAZY HEART,
which hasbeen turned into an award winning motion picture.

Since then he has worked on feature films, including Walt Disney
Picture’s UNDERDOG and New Line Cinema’s THE WOMEN.

His short film GOD’S COUNTRY, collaborated with director/writer and co-producer Mike Messier, went on to win the 2008 Ruff Cutz Film Festival Audience Award and the2008 Imagine News Boston Comedy Film Festival Audience Choice Award. Tim has also provided footage for the Cartoon Network program BoBB’e Says and Comedy Central program TOSH.0. He currently works as an editor and camera operatorat ABC6 in Providence, RI and continues to work on comedic shorts, features and documentaries.

Photo by Courtney Wilson

D'Rafael - Composer

D'Rafael has spent the last 14 years collecting classical and
contemporary music and playing his unique gypsy style with a touch of Latin and jazz. At the age of 15, D'Rafael participated in and received the top prize in the Barranco Music Competition in Lima, Peru in 1986. Only four years later, in 1990, D'Rafael won a scholarship to study Visual Arts at the School of Fine Arts in Miami, Florida. In 1991, he became the recipient of a music award for Best Performance at the Traditional Music Competition in Miami, Florida hosted by the legendary Don Augusto Ferrando. D'Rafael performed with several different Latin bands around the country over the years, before establishing the group Gitano in 1994. D'Rafael and the group Gitano have performed at numerous events including festivals as well as private events in colleges, universities and museums.