Haitian-born director Raoul Peck is presently working on his new film, Moloch Tropical, based on the sociopolitical atmosphere during the last 24 hours that marked the undoing of the kingdom of Henri-Christophe, one of the major leaders of the Haitian Revolution, through which Haiti gained its independence from France in 1804.
After the war of independence, Haiti was ruled from 1804 to 1806, first as a republic and then as a monarchy, by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who proclaimed himself Emperor Jacques I of Haiti. After Dessalines’ assassination, the country was divided into two parts and ruled by Alexandre Pétion, also known Papa Bon Coeur [Father Good Heart] in the West and South and Henri-Christophe, also known as Le Bâtisseur [The Builder], in the North. In 1811, establishing a monarchy in Northern Haiti and proclaiming himself Henri I, he set out to build a nation that could fend for itself economically and militarily in order to thwart the French and other colonial powers. Therefore, Christophe built the Citadelle Laferrière, numerous mansions and palaces such as The Palace of Sans-Souci and the Palace of 365 Doors, thus earning his nickname. Admired by some for his success in rebuilding an economy that was devastated after years of revolutionary war and for trying to promote education, he was reviled for his harsh policies, having chosen to prolong the old plantation system, and for using the citizenry as virtual slaves for his agricultural and building projects. Rather than face the imminent uprising against his reign, King Henri-Christophe shot himself. He was buried within the walls of the Citadelle Laferrière. It is the largest fortress in the Western Hemisphere, and along with Sans Souci, has been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO since 1982.
Henri-Christophe has been an inspiration to many writers such as Graham Montague Jeffries (Drums of Destiny, 1946), Covelle Newcomb (Black Fire: A Story of Henri Christophe, 1940), Alejo Carpentier (El reino de este mundo [The Kingdom of This World] 1949), Aimé Césaire (La Tragédie du Roi Christophe, 1963), and Derek Walcott (The Haitian Trilogy, 2002), among others.
Although Raoul Peck’s Moloch Tropical is fictional, set in a modern milieu, and “not about Christophe,” according to the director, it will be filmed at the La Citadelle Laferrière, the famous fortress built by Henri-Christophe. With dialogue in Creole, French, and English, the screenplay is co-authored by Haitian writer, director, and actor, Jean-René Lemoine, and produced by Peck. The cast, including Haitian and non-Haitian actors, will feature Sonia Rolland, Zinedine Soualem, Mireille Métellus, and Jimmy Jean-Louis (better known in the United States for his role as “The Haitian”-the unnamed man with the power to erase people’s memories-in the Heroes series), and Haitian singer Emmeline Michel.
Moloch Tropical is Raoul Peck’s sixth feature-length film, including Lumumba (2000) and Sometimes in April (2005), but he has directed many films made for television, documentaries, and experimental videos. Many of his other films have dealt with topics related to Haitian history. Some of these include New York ist nicht Haiti [Haitian Corner] (1988), L’Homme sur les quais [The Man by the Shore] (1993), Desounen: Dialogue with Death (1994), Haiti: The Silence of the Dogs (1994), Corps Plongés [It's Not About Love] (1998), and Profit & Nothing But! Or Impolite Thoughts on the Class Struggle (2001).
For a full article on the upcoming film (in French), see http://www.caribcreole1.com/news/haiti/1,1066,09-032009haiti-un-nouveau-film-politique-de-raoul-peck.html
[...] First Showing describes Moloch Tropical: “A democratically elected ‘President’ and his closest collaborators are getting ready for a state celebration. But in the morning of the event, he wakes up to find the country inflamed and the streets in turmoil. Despite the situation, the President does not want to face reality and refuses to resign. Overwhelmed, he plunges into a deep mental confusion as the events unfold. Set in a castle in the clouds, Moloch Tropical is a Shakespearian, behind-the-scenes depiction of the end of power.” [Also see previous post Raoul Peck’s Moloch Tropical.] [...]
By: Moloch Tropical at the Toronto Film Festival « Repeating Islands on July 25, 2009
at 12:05 am
[...] The BAM describes Moloch Tropical thus: “Acclaimed filmmaker Raoul Peck transplants Aleksandr Sokurov’s Moloch (about the final days of Hitler and Eva Braun) to Haiti, to create a shattering portrait of a politician’s psychological and political breakdown. In a fortress perched on the top of a distant mountain, a democratically elected President and his closest collaborators prepare for a state celebration; meanwhile his country’s citizens express their dissent as the city is engulfed in flames and the streets erupt in turmoil. As the day goes on, the rebellion and mayhem worsens. The film is in French, English, and Creole with English titles. [Also see previous posts Raoul Peck: A different View of Haiti and Raoul Peck’s Moloch Tropical.] [...]
By: Moloch Tropical: From the Sydney Film Festival to New York’s BAM Rose Cinemas « Repeating Islands on September 10, 2010
at 6:51 pm
Even in your country’s height of economic crisis, you are able to bring history to the big screen. I was not only overwhelmed but interested in learning the socio-political atmosphere in Haiti during the 100s. Moloch Tropical is a must see for schools in the Caribbean.
By: Rebecca Theodore on September 17, 2010
at 2:37 pm
Correction—- During the 1800′s
By: Rebecca Theodore on September 17, 2010
at 2:39 pm
This is a very great movie on the history of Haiti
By: Keith Blackwood on September 21, 2010
at 1:02 pm
Rebecca Theodore has suggested that this movie should be placed on the curriculum of Caribbean history for schools in the Caribbean and I totally agree. Can someone join me in starting a blog to push this matter to CXC officials?
By: jacquie on November 19, 2010
at 3:43 pm
[...] The CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival recently took place in Barbados. Filmmakers from the region and the world came together for a week of cultural celebration at the Island Inn and George Washington House in Bridgetown, Barbados. The closing night screening was Raoul Peck’s Moloch Tropical [see previous post Raoul Peck’s Moloch Tropical]. [...]
By: CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival–A Great Success in Barbados « Repeating Islands on April 6, 2011
at 7:27 am
great movie
By: Sonja on September 22, 2011
at 5:10 pm
[...] did you get involved with Moloch Tropical? Raoul contacted me, and yeah he proposed that role of Gerard Francis. It was well-written, [...]
By: Jimmy Jean-Louis Talks About the Toussaint Louverture Movie, Family Life and Hollywood :: Kreyolicious.com on December 23, 2011
at 1:23 pm