Filmmaker Statement

As a Haitian-American, I've always wanted to direct a project that honored my ancestors who successfully revolted against their oppressors and became the first Black republic in the world. When we think about the Haitian Revolution, we hear about the male generals like Toussaint L'Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, but never about the women who contributed to the war effort. After extensive research into the roles women played in the Haitian Revolution, the idea for "Bwa Kayiman" came to life. Bwa Kayiman (English translation is "Alligator Forest") was a Haitian Voodoo ceremony where the enslaved people of Haiti came together and decided to fight against their French oppressors. My film, Bwa Kayiman, begins with this ceremony, and follows the story of Esi, a young woman who decides to fight in the revolution.