Children of Shadows

A film about the restavèk children of Haiti

Children of Shadows is a 54-minute documentary that portrays the restavèk children of Haiti.  The film follows the children as they go through their daily chores - the endless cycle of cooking, washing, sweeping, mopping, going to the market, going to fetch water, going to run errands, etc.  In heartbreaking interviews, the children speak openly and shyly about the lives they are forced to lead.  The "aunts" (adoptive caretakers) speak openly and proudly of the vast mountain of work that "their" restavèk does for them.  The camera goes deep into the countryside to interview the peasant families as to what kind of situation would force them to give away one or several of their children.  Haitian social workers and economists who have spent time with the restavèks speak of the causes and possible solutions to this situation.

Narrated entirely by the people themselves in their native Creole (English sub-titles), and with original Haitian music laced throughout the film, the documentary is both emotional and informative. It is the first feature-length documentary to be made on this subject, which until recently, had rarely been talked about.

Children of Shadows will be available for release to non-profit institutions in October 2001.  It will be available for home market in March 2001.

For more information contact:

Karen Kramer
22 Leroy St.
New York, NY 10014

212.691.3470
kramerkar@aol.com