Dive into the heart of Jacmel's carnival, where masks and dances tell the story of Haiti: a living memory of resistance, spirituality and popular pride.
To inaugurate its screening series, CinéMansA presents the French premiere of Kanaval: A People's History of Haiti in Six Chapters, a documentary directed by Leah Gordon and Eddie Hutton-Mills. This immersive film transports us to Jacmel, a coastal city in southern Haiti, where carnival becomes a popular theater of collective memory.
Through six chapters, the film explores the history of Haiti, from the indigenous Taino peoples to contemporary struggles, including the slave revolt of 1791 and the proclamation of the first independent black republic in 1804. The performances of the carnival troupes, their elaborate costumes and ritual dances embody historical figures and landmark events, transforming the streets into scenes of resistance and celebration.
The documentary blends archival footage, performer testimonials and visually arresting sequences captured by cinematographer Joel Honeywell. This sensory and poetic approach reveals how carnival, far from being a simple celebration, becomes an act of cultural transmission and reappropriation of history.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with directors Leah Gordon and Eddie Hutton-Mills, moderated by the team from the Haitian magazine DO.KRE.I.S.
On the occasion of this screening, the book Kanaval: Vodou, Politics and Revolution on the Streets of Haiti will be available for purchase. The book brings together over 30 years of photographs and oral histories of the Jacmel carnival, offering a visual and narrative immersion in this living tradition. Spectators will have the chance to take away a copy signed by Leah Gordon.
