L’ union fait la force, unity makes strength, is the Haitian national motto. It’s the platform on which the first black nation gained its independence from France in 1804. Despite this saying, the Haitian culture has built its own notions on social status based on who they’re related to, which part of the country their family is from, the schools they attended and even their skin complexion.
Rachelle Salnave, director of La Belle Vie, set out on a mission to discover her Haitian roots. In the documentary she examined these biased concepts to determine the source of this intolerance, and began the movement of changing the prejudice that exists in Haitian society.
AC: What message are you trying to convey with La Belle Vie?
RS: La Belle Vie examines identity; my identity. By discovering my roots, I discovered Haiti. I wanted to examine my roots to determine where this complexity comes from. What you saw was only an excerpt of the documentary. It’s in post-production. I’m editing the film.
AC: In La Belle Vie Your aunt, Marie-Simone states “we are not the right color.” What did she mean by that? Was she referring to not being the right color in America?
RS: Haiti is divided by class. Even though my aunt was not part of the bourgeois class, she was part of the aristocrats. They were able to mix with high society. When she came to America, she was black. Her mentor told her she came with the wrong color. My aunt came here with the idea that her family was better than everyone, but in the United States they were not. It was like a smack in the face.
AC: You are related to the 13th President of Haiti, how has this impacted you, knowing that your family is a part of Haitian History?
RS: When I was younger I identified with the “hood,” which has a negative image. My mom would tell me, “You are a legacy…you are not Black American.” It gave me a sense of pride. My history didn’t come from the textbook version; it goes back to when we were slaves and became free. That knowledge helped me break away from denying my Haitian roots.
He’s a symbol of the message for this documentary. Born to a white father and black mother, he fought to break away from the mentality that supports the idea that looks makes one superior. White or black isn’t right; it’s your spirit that has to be.
AC: Are you working on any other documentaries relevant to the Haitian Community?
RS: I’m writing a narrative about Haiti; a love story. My goal is use Haiti as the back drop for the arts. I want to try to get in the game like everyone else. By God’s will I will become a staple in the black independent film industry.
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