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.
Written, Produced, and Directed by Alexandria Hammond
Associate Producer Regine Zamor
Co-producer Eric Lahey
Cinematography
Eric Lahey
Alexandria Hammond
Music
Emeline Michel
Daniel Bernard Roumain
RAM
Rosemond Jolissaint
Consulting Editor Sam Pollard
Editor
Alexandria Hammond
Cast
Boys
Denick
Nickenson
Antoine
Peterson
Pa
Karl Henry
Frisenel
Theodore
Mackenson
Guesly
Vanel
Robens
Sonson
James Victor
Reynold Jean-Baptiste
Geraldy
Romane
Ronaldo
Donald Henri
Elvio
Interviews
#1 Guide in Milot
Napoleon Dupin
Translator/ Soccer Coach
Alfred Castel
Adjunct Mayor of Cap-Haitien
Michel Saint Croix
Adjunct Mayor of Milot
Nica Lagredel
Denickis Stepfather
Makenson
Money Changer
Luis Marcellus
Uncle
Ti Frere
Translations and Transcripts Regine Zamor
Tamara Thompson
Location Translators Alfred Castel
Denise Kelly
Catherine Behan
Sasha Kramer
Regine Zamor
Assistant Editors Ian Markiewicz
Max Cavanaugh
Regine Zamor
Time-Lapse Photography Eric Lahey
Additional Camera Equipment Abel Cine Tech, NYC
Ackerman Cameras, Portland OR
Film Lab Lab-Link, NY
DuArt
Video Dailies Vito Hughes
Music Supervisor Katharine Applegarth Simons
Location Insurance Otto Porrazzo
Legal
Alexander Murphy, Esq
Production Assistants Anne Takahashi
Justine Hammond
Website and Promotional Materials Mary Church Cornette
Post-Production Prime Focus, NYC
Online Editor Euene Lehnert
Colorist
Alex Berman
Project Manager Bridget Carroll
Sound Facility Jarpa Estudio
Sound Re-Recording Mixer Luis C. Acosta Arredondo
Graphics and Titles Lucie Kim
Location Support Jessica Lozier
James Kelly
Louicius Micius Eugene
Lesly Saintil
Karl Edddy Lubin
Steve Anthony McIntosh
Nick Berzman
Roi Christophe Hotel
Richard Morse
Music
"Marciela"
Written and Preformed by Emeline Michel
Published by Emeline Michel
Courtesy of Production Cheval De Feu
"Mon Reve" and "Interlude (Soufle Van)"
Written and Preformed by Emeline Michel
Published by Emeline Michel
Courtesy of Times Square Records
"Sky," "Orbit," "Cotillion 1" and "Resonance Two"
Written and Performed by Daniel Bernard Roumain
Published by DBR Music Productions LLC
Courtesy of DBR Music Productions, LLC
"Divergence" and "Resonance Two"
Written and Performed by Daniel Bernard Roumain
Published by DBR Music Productions LLC
Courtesy of Thirsty Ear Recordings
"The Need to Follow"
Written and Performed by Daniel Bernard Roumain
Featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto
Published by DBR Music Productions LLC
Courtesy of Thirsty Ear Recordings
"DBRClogs"
Written by Daniel Bernard Roumain and Wynne Bennett
"Erzuli O," "Kadja Bossou," and "Simbi Macaya"
Perfromed by RAM
Published by Willibelle Publishing (BMI)
Special Thanks Peter Bavaro
Susan Bissell
Sandy Bodecker
CRUDEM Foundation
John Dauer
Nadege Fleurimond
Global Potential
Jeff Hammond
Margarita Hammond
The Hatfield Family
Rika Iino
Katharine Kean
Kodak
Robert Mastronardi
Albert Maysles
David Piperni
SOIL
Milton Tabbot
The Zamor Family
Fiscal Sponsor IFP New York
This film was produced by Strange Things Productions, LLC, which is solely responsible for its content.
(c) 2010 Strange Things Productions, LLC. All rights reserved.