Children of Haiti

Premiered January 11, 2011

Directed by

Alexandria Hammond

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About the Documentary

In the midst of Haiti’s lush mountains and historical relics, hundreds of thousands of orphaned and abandoned children wander the streets day and night. Known as the Sanguine (“Soulless”) and forgotten by their own people, they struggled for survival even before the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Children of Haiti follows three teenage street boys, who reflect on their country and their lives, sharing a common dream of education, government assistance, and social acceptance. Following the evolution and transformation of these boys into young men, this film provides insight into Haiti’s ongoing abandoned youth problem. In the voices of the street boys themselves, the film examines a complicated issue that has plagued the country for decades and grows more severe by the day.

Shot in the historic northern city of Cap-Haitien over a period of three years, Children of Haiti reveals the country’s strange contrasts; a land of breathtaking landscapes and remarkable heritage, but also great human tragedy, all seen through the eyes of these prolific, poetic boys. Despite the nearly insurmountable obstacles, they show that a few can still manage to find hope, and even a little joy, in this harsh reality.

The Filmmaker

Alexandria Hammond

Producer/Director Alexandria Hammond is a Mexican American filmmaker based in New York City. Children of Haiti is her feature directorial debut. She is currently in post-production on a feature film about Memphis garage rock musician Jay Reatard, and in pre-production on a documentary set in Mexico City.

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