“KANAVAL” a feature film written and directed by Henri Pardo was honored with the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian Feature also picking up an Honourable Mention for Best Canadian Feature Film at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Nine-year-old Rico (Rayan Dieudonné) and his mother Erzulie (Penande Estime) flee 1975 Haiti after his dissident mother was tortured and beaten by Papa Doc Duvalier’s Tonton Macoute a group of violent thugs quashing any challenge to dictator Papa Doc. Haiti then and even now is dirt poor and politically violent. Erzulie is a suspected “communist”.
Erzulie was apprehended and savaged by the Tonton Macoute on the last day of Kanaval (Haitian version of Carnival) so Rico is left with dreams and vision of the voodoo inspired costumes of Kanaval and his alter ego taunter and protector Kana.
Erzulie and Rico are accepted into Quebec and live in the countryside with farmer Albert (Martin Dubreuil) and Cécile (Claire Jacques) Cyr. The Cyr’s are suffering a great misfortune of losing their infant children so they have a soft spot for Rico. Erzulie teaches at a local school. Rico experiences racism from both adults and children. Racism emanating from children is unpleasant but from adults even more intolerable.
Rico, traumatized by this mother’s pain and suffering has his alter ego Kana continually barbing him his mother will abandon him and those rural Quebecois are all monsters. One fault with the film is the portrayal of Quebecois as either saintly or malicious racists. Incorrect extremism? Neither is there any gratitude expressed by Erzulie about Canada accepting her, presumably as a refugee.
We follow Erzulie and Rico throughout 1975. They finally reach the Haitian Mecca of Montreal where Rico connects with Haitian immigrants at his school.
A compelling recounting of the trials and tribulations of immigration particularly from a child’s perception. Solid performances from all involved. Yes bravo for the awards but should the film have catapulted over the categories it distinguished itself in or should it have been less marginalized by these awards and won greater distinction? Could it be that film genres pigeonhole great cinema?
You may have missed TIFF but rest assured this Canadian film will circulate globally.
RKS 2023 Film Rating: 92/100.
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