The true story of Jean Dominique, a Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist.The true story of Jean Dominique, a Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist.The true story of Jean Dominique, a Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist.
- Director
- Stars
- Awards
- 3 wins & 2 nominations
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis account of a Haitian radio journalist stems from the early 80s when Jonathan Demme retreated to the island after the critical drubbing and box office failure of Swing Shift (1984). Whilst there, he became friends with Jean Dominique.
- Quotes
Jean Dominique: Clearly our silence and restraint irritated Dany Toussaint, and perhaps his masters. The mistake of Dany Toussaint was to think that a bit of terrorism on the part of street thugs would give access to our microphone. If they keep trying to use these screamers in front of Radio Haiti Inter to shut down the Delmas Road, he will break his teeth! The microphone of Radio Haiti will stay closed to him! Yeah I know that he has weapons! And that he has money to pay and arm his henchmen. Here I have no weapons other than my journalism, my microphone and my unquenchable faith as a militant for true change! If Dany Toussaint tries anything else against me or the radio and I am still alive, I will close the place down after I have denounced his maneuvers once more, and I will return to exile with my family. I close with Shakespeare: 'The truth will always make the devil's face blush!'
- ConnectionsReferences La Strada (1954)
Director Jonathan Demme provides much interview footage of Dominique in this ninety-minute documentary. His American-educated widow, Michele, (Homecoming Queen at the University of Maine, participant in the Vietnam-era Columbia riots) was also his partner in the radio station which she now runs.
Dominique was born into a comfortable family which in Haiti meant they either worked with the corrupt administration of the day or didn't oppose it. His father inspired nationalistic feelings in the young man who went off to France, as many well-off Haitians did and do, to study. In the interviews, his words are frequently punctuated with a sardonic laugh undoubtedly cultivated in the cafes of Paris.
Dominique never gave quarter to "Papa Doc" Duvalier, his idiot son and successor or to Aristide and the military junta that alternated with the now again deposed priest/president.
Articulate and fascinating, Dominique had to know he was in mortal peril virtually every day other than the two brief exile periods in New York (where he and Michele wed). Although he both found sanctuary in America and disliked U.S. foreign policy, especially after Reagan succeeded Carter, his ideological values reflect the best ideals of this country. American involvement with and in Haiti do not.
Interspersed with the interviews of Dominique and Michele are scenes of near anarchy and brutal violence in the incredibly poor country as well as shots of rituals reflecting the nativist tradition of a largely neglected rural class.
I would have passed this film by but for the recommendation of a colleague who used to travel to Haiti decades ago. I'm grateful to him for an eye-opening and deeply disturbing peek into a cauldron whose temperature continues above the social and political boiling point.
At the end of the film Michele is seen broadcasting from the station reporting that her murdered husband is alive and still campaigning for the values for which he died. It's not tongue-in-cheek, it's a moving legacy to a man who states in the film that democratic ideals of freedom can't be killed. He was right but he certainly could be and he paid the price for his lifelong heroism.
9/10
Details
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- Also known as
- Агроном
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $226,189
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $30,855
- Apr 25, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $226,189