18387: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-The Raboteau Trial (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Herald Film Critic- rene Rodriguez

THE RABOTEAU TRIAL (Unrated) ***

For several days in April 1994, Haitian military and paramilitary troops
murdered, tortured and terrorized the citizens of Raboteau, a neighborhood
90 miles north of Port-au-Prince. An estimated 50 people were killed in the
massacre, which was part of the coup that ousted Haitian president Jean
Bertrand Aristide.

Six years later, witnesses and relatives of the victims succeeded in
bringing 22 former soldiers to trial for their participation in the
killings. Using a journalistic approach, The Raboteau Trial documents the
efforts of the various individuals who persevered against Haiti's ''climate
of impunity'' to bring charges against the gunmen and provide closure to the
tragedy.

As Michelle Montas, widow of slain Haitian activist Jean Dominique, explains
in the film, criminal trials are something people are not used to in Haiti,
where justice used to be seen as something people could buy in the market.
Co-directors Christine Cynn and Harriet Hirshorn show how the arrogance of
the accused -- who laugh and mug their way through the trial and ridicule
the testimony of eyewitnesses -- suggests they never really thought they
would ever be found guilty, a sad testament to Haiti's tumultuous, lawless
history.

The most indelible image in The Raboteau Trial, however, comes when one of
the townspeople is sworn in before his testimony, his hand shaking but held
high, clearly frightened but intent on doing his part for justice.

Co-directors-producers: Christine Cynn, Harriet Hirshorn.

Editors: Harriet Hirshorn, Mary Patierno.

Running time: 56 minutes.

Violent images, adult themes. In English, Haitian Creole and French with
English subtitles. Plays at 3 p.m. Sunday at Tower.

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