HT, FR

2024

81 min

Finished

The Soul of the Bossales

Les âmes bossales

Directing: François Perlier

Synopsis

Through the stories of an activist, a priest, a filmmaker, and a labourer, the film captures the soul of today’s Haiti, beset by political, economic and security crises exacerbated by a devastating earthquake in 2010.

We see daily tasks and intense moments of harmony with the island’s spirituality while armed gangs loot the capital, threatening the lives of locals.

Dramatically contrasting audio and video conveys the indomitable will to live. Traditional ceremonies and the rhythms of indigenous Haitian music blend with the terrifying sounds of explosive violence accompanying the escalating instability. To awaken the spirit of the “bossales” is to celebrate human resilience in the harsh reality of a country that is losing its struggle for independence.