“Storming Papa Doc,” the new documentary directed by Mario L. Delatour, is a historical reenactment that depicts the story of former Haitian army officers who, in 1958, are exiled to Florida only to return with a vengeance and a plan to overthrow Haitian president, Dr. Francois Duvalier. Animated and intercut with interviews of friends and family members of the brigade, the film explores the lives of each officer. The viewer is transported to Haiti of the 1940’s and Florida, which became a temporary incubator for the opposition. This film chronicles what could have been one of the most successful military operations in Haitian history, the coup d’état of one of the worst dictators of the 20th century.
A special screening will be held in Shoma Hall at the School of Communication at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2. There will be a Q&A session with the director after the screening with a conversation moderated by Edouard Duval-Carrié, a Haitian-born American painter and sculptor. With a ticket, this event is free for UM students and faculty. General admission is $11 and the non-UM student and senior citizen rate is $7. Tickets can be purchased here. All proceeds go toward Planet Kreyol’s mission of bringing Haitian programming to UM.
This film is presented by Ayiti Images, a new traveling series bringing Haitian films right to the people, in collaboration with the University of Miami Cinema and Interactive Media Department, the Haitian Student Organization at the University of Miami, FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center, Little Haiti Cultural Center, O Cinema, and Lake Worth Playhouse. Ayiti Images’ goal is to use films to give Haiti a unique voice told by the people who live, speak and feel the culture.
