Barikad, I Love You Anne, La Peur d'aimer… five Haitian films that shaped a generation

La Peur d'aimer, Barikad, Millionnaire par erreur, I Love You Anne and Sonson: mostly shot on video on small budgets between 2000 and 2003, these five feature films remain, for a whole generation of Haitians at home and in the diaspora, the classics of a national cinema that was booming at the time.

Back then, these local productions held their own against Hollywood. In May 2002, a news report carried by The Daily Record said low-budget Haitian films were drawing more viewers than American blockbusters in Port-au-Prince theaters; La Peur d'aimer was cited among the features shot on video.

La Peur d'aimer (2000)

Directed by Réginald Lubin, who also plays Roger, a Port-au-Prince lawyer, the film tells the romance between Roger and Sarah, played by Sandra Lobir, alongside the drama of young Adeline. Richard Sénécal was its cinematographer and editor. In 2013, Le Nouvelliste described it as a film apart in Haitian cinema and noted that a brief appearance by Daniel Fils-Aimé, known as Tonton Bicha, had revealed his talent as a comic actor.

Barikad (2002)

Richard Sénécal's first feature, Barikad tells of an unexpected love between a maid from the countryside and a boy from a wealthy Port-au-Prince family, against a backdrop of class prejudice. Its cast includes Fabienne Colas, Handy Tibert, Gessica Généus and Haendel Dorfeuille.

Millionnaire par erreur (2002)

Directed by Jean Gardy Bien-Aimé from a screenplay by Smoye Noisy, this comedy stars Alessandra Lemoine and Smoye Noisy. A young professional in debt benefits from a banking error made by a wealthy industrialist and must choose between honesty and fortune. The premiere took place on July 13, 2002, in Pétion-Ville, ahead of a theatrical release on July 19, according to Radio Métropole.

I Love You Anne (2003)

Richard Sénécal's second feature, this comedy follows Anne, who falls for Don Kato, a reggae singer, much to the dismay of her father, played by Tonton Bicha. The cast also includes Nice Simon and Antonio Chéramy, known as Don Kato. The film had a sequel, We Love You Anne, about ten years later.

Sonson (2003)

Jean-Claude Bourjolly's second film, Sonson is set in rural Haiti: a farmer has his goat stolen by the brother of his village's police chief. The film, in Creole, features Wilson Jean Michel, Wilfrid Brignolles, Clarens Cheridieu and Altenor Milot, among others.

Barikad is now available to rent on the FilmHaiti.com platform, created by Imagine Haïti, and both Barikad and I Love You Anne have a page on Prime Video.