Ghosts Of Cité Soleil (DVD-Video)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Documentary: B-

 

 

Asger Leth’s Ghosts Of Cité Soleil (2007) is a remarkable, honest, thorough and raw look at why the title city is the most dangerous place on earth according to the U.N. as we see two vicious sides that are crushing everyone in their way.  On one side are the street gangs who fight each other and kill indiscriminately in ways that make U.S. gang violence seem tame.  If that were not ugly enough, they are being used by the higher government power to keep control of the country, especially exemplified by the reign of terror of President Aristide.

 

However, the bulk of the powerful 85 minutes is spent on the gang kids, who are bigger victims than they could ever imagine, with their variations of Hip Hop their favorite music and all unaware of the political manipulation being perpetrated on them.  If they did become socially aware, you could imagine how the situation would change.  Even more amazing, it tends to have an amazing metaphor for the similar situation in the African American community in the U.S., which is why you may not have heard enough about this work or this story from anywhere in the mainstream media.

 

That is why we highly recommend this, because it may be one of the top censored stories in world news today.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is poor and shot under tough conditions on video.  However, the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is a bit better, though it is really stretching the sound which is simple stereo at best.  Extras include trailers for this and other THINKFilm releases.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo