On Wednesday, 09 April 2014, 10h00<\/b> AfricAvenir invites schools to the fiction film \u00ab Toussaint Louverture \u00bb<\/b> by french-senegalese director Philippe Niang<\/b>, the long overdue first fiction ever made about the man who, born into slavery, became a General in the French army and even defied Napoleon\u2019s power by making his homeland, Ha\u00efti<\/b>, the first independent Black State in the world, an abolitionist and anti-colonialist State. In three hours, director Philippe Niang draws a breathtaking historical epic<\/b> which perfectly translates the complex personality of the hero of Haitian independence and of the liberation of Black peoples.<\/p>\n
\u201cDirector Philip Niang craftfully weaves the dynamic story of this emblematic and universal hero in a comprehensive, two-part drama, keeping you on the edge of your seat (…) This is a must-see for people of all origins.<\/i>\u201d Suzanne Gregoire, The Sentinel<\/p>\n
Due to the length of the film, it will be separated into two parts by a brief intermission and followed by a discussion<\/b>. The film is screened in French and Haitian Creole with English subtitles.<\/p>\n
Synopsis<\/b>
We are at the end of the 18th century. The French revolution is brewing. All parts of the French territory are affected. An island, Saint-Domingue which will later become Ha\u00efti, thanks to one man, will take its destiny into its own hands. This man is Toussaint Louverture. A strong character imbued by democratic convictions and convinced by the values and potential new benefits of the nascent republic, he joins France after having fought with the Spanish, the British and after having refused the alliance with the American States. Some years later, he will even defy Napoleon\u2019s power and will enable his homeland, Ha\u00efti, to become the first independent Black State in the world, an abolitionist and anti-colonialist State. From his prison at Fort de Joux, it is himself who will analyse with wisdom his own behaviour in the context of each situation. Not easy for this man who had to take and assume alone his often difficult decisions in an ambiguous historic and political context\u2026 Here is the story of a man who fought all his life against colonialism and slavery. n