BuzzFlash Reviews

August 2005

The Agronomist (DVD)

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If you are completely perplexed or disinterested by the title of this documentary by Hollywood director Jonathan Demme, reserve your judgment a second. Why? Because this is one of the most fascinating, engaging documentaries about an individual's passion for democracy that we have seen.

The thoroughly intriguing and dynamic star of this story is the late Haitian radio owner and journalist, Jean Dominique. Dominique has an infectious, fearless love of freedom, justice and economic opportunity for the poor of Haiti. That commitment puts him at odds with just about everyone who has ruled Haiti, even his former hero, Aristide.

The film is called "The Agronomist" because that was Dominique's academic background and first profession. It was also the source of his first political lesson when he was jailed for teaching poor Haitian farmers how to grow more produce, thus threatening the entrenched agricultural powers.

After a sojourn in Paris, where he became captivated by the power of the cinema, he returned to Haiti and eventually, through happenstance, assumed the ownership of "Radio Haiti Inter" until he was gunned down outside the station in 2000. So many of the Haitian rulers wanted him dead, the murder is still unsolved.

Dominique's radio station was dedicated to informing the poor of Haiti about the news of their homeland. He was the first person to air broadcasts in Creole. He defied government censorship. His station was regularly riddled with bullets. He was forced into exile twice. But he never backed down, or lost his sense of humor, or his passion for justice.

It is hard to imagine an uplifting film about such a dreary political situation as the one in Haiti -- and especially a film in which the primary subject is murdered. But that's what "The Agronomist" is: a film that inspires a passionate activism for justice and democracy -- and always with a droll perspective on the follies and hypocrisies of those in entrenched positions of powers, particularly those with guns for hire at their disposal.

As Jean Dominique animatedly asserted, "You cannot kill truth; you cannot kill justice; you cannot kill what we are fighting for." And he said it with a twinkle in his eye.

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