American Morning
Why Jonathan Demme loves Haiti
By Alina Cho, CNN
Jonathan Demme has had a love affair with Haiti for more than 20 years. So when he heard about the earthquake, he wanted to help.
"I almost went last weekend. I've got my shots, I get on a plane, I'm going to go down, I'm going to help. What am I going to do?"
The Academy-Award winning director's passion for Haiti came first through art.
Walking by a gallery in the mid-1980's he says, "I was really overwhelmed by the creativity of these paintings, the excitement of the music and I thought, 'Wow, Haiti. This is very interesting.' And I bought a painting."
That eventually led him on a trip to Haiti to find more paintings. What he discovered was a country full of people who were as vibrant as their art. It was 1986.
"It was an extraordinary moment in Haitian history because Jean-Claude Duvalier, the dictator for life, had been overthrown by a popular revolt. And I was so excited about this fervor for democracy.”
So Demme made two documentaries on Haiti for the rest of the world to see what he saw as the Haitian spirit, including "The Agronomist," a story about Haiti's most famous journalist. Jean Dominique, the founder of Radio Haiti International, was a man who fought and gave his life in the pursuit of democracy.
"He was brilliant at the microphone and I thought, well, I can see why this guy is so popular and, in fact, I would love to cast him in a movie."
While Demme reels at scenes of sheer devastation from Haiti, he also sees what he says is their true character.
“The resiliency of the Haitian people is going to keep them going. And, you know, I still absurdly have this great belief that it's just not over for the Haitians.
Demme says he plans to go back to Haiti within the next six months to a year and his hope is to do another documentary on Haiti. This time, about how the Haitian people are recovering and rebuilding after one of the worst natural disasters in history.
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On Twitter
The soul of the Haitian people will never break!
we must do something for the orphaned kids. . . .we must. . . but what??? there's got to be something that can be done. . . any suggestions, please let me know I am all ears
we have endured so much I am most certain that we will rise from the ashes and I thank you for your support. am trying to go to volunteer but it is so difficult to go am a nurse, am proud to say I am from Haiti
You are a class act Jonathan. Good luck with the documentary!
anyone who's been to haiti falls in love with the amazing people, and i couldnt agree with Demme more--it is NOT over for the haitians.
in fact, hideous as the earthquake is, it can't beat the strength and faith of the haitians. Of any population i've ever seen in the world, the unity of Haitians in the face of devastation-which they have unfortunately experienced far too often--is impressive and inspiring!!
i've been to haiti 3 times, twice to pick up my children after too-long adoptions and a visit in december 2008. i'm working very hard to keep the beautiful haitian spirit in my kids--although the Leapster and Spongebob are giving me a run for the money--and a pride in their culture. but i'm very fortunate to live in a city with a fairly large, vibrant haitian community.
why would anyone diss a celebtrity for using their celebrity? I WOULD!!! regardless of their motivation-and i definitely dont doubt demmes--any positive attention they give people and countries who need it is a good thing! and documenting the culture and people of haiti is a WONDERFUL thing to do, everyone needs to see how AMAZING these people are; massive corruption in all levels of government is the problem, not the people! i know haitians who learned how to read and speak english from scraps of garbage in cite soleil, and they are MUCH better at it than many many americans!
do yourself-and your friends and family--a favor and read up on haiti's history to see the kind of people we are tlaking about here.
@ Bryant:
Hey, at least he's not going there to perform grandstanding "rescues" like some other celebrities/reporters. (What good are they doing besides getting in people's way?) Making movies is what Demme does, and he's quite good at it. So let him.
Hollywood to the rescue again. Just what the Haitians need - another documentary. BRILLIANT!
Demme also made a film about Haitian music. I cannot remember the name, but it played at the French Library in Boston. He has always had a wonderful multicultural/varied musical approach in all his films.
What a guy.