Les Vagues dans les yeux (Waves in the Eyes)

Co-presented by Haiti Cultural Exchange

This trilogy is inspired by the story of Samuel Suffren’s father, who embarked on a 1981 boat journey with 22 other Haitians in search of the American Dream; the three films tell stories from the perspectives of those who stayed in the country. In his cinema, Suffren visually reconnects with his past and ancestors, framing Haiti with a latent gaiety, like a joy that will come tomorrow. His work portrays the beauty, the resilience, and the strength of his country.

Followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker

Agwe (2022)
Dir. Samuel Suffren
18min; Digital
In Haitian with English subtitles

François leaves Haiti for the US by sailboat, leaving behind his wife, Mirlande, who is six months pregnant. She must wait ten days to hear from her husband. And now, ten years later, without any news, the woman who is still hoping and waiting offers a sacrifice to Agwe, the divinity of the oceans.

Dreams like Paper Boats (2024)
Dir. Samuel Suffren
19min; Digital
In Haitian with English subtitles

Edouard and his daughter live with a cassette received from his wife in the United States, a long time ago. After years of absence, what can we expect from a distant love?

Blue Heart (2025)
Dir. Samuel Suffren
15min; Digital
In Haitian with English subtitles

Marianne and Pétion live in Haiti and wait impatiently for a call from their son in the USA. The promise of the American Dream seems to elude them, as the line between hope and reality becomes increasingly blurred.

preceded by

Panyen Banbou (Bamboo Basket) (2024)
Dir. Laïssa Alexis
12min; Digital
Haiti/USA

Framed by the storytelling traditions in the artist’s family, Panyen Banbou combines home video and archival footage to contemplate ideas of domesticity, the intimate space of the home, and what is shared in that space.