FilmHaiti.com » Blog Archive » Cousines : The Haitian movie (Cousins)
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From Variety Magazine By Ronnie Scheib

Mon, Jul. 31, 2006

A Will Brothers Entertainment, Imagine Haiti production in association with Ryan’s Production. Produced by Wilkenson Bruna. Executive producer, Claudy Joseph.
Directed, written, edited by Richard Senecal.

Haitian multi-hyphenate Richard Senecal’s third outing, about a young woman who must choose between love and money, is a simple moral fable wrapped in beauty. Through Senecal’s DV lens, the entire island, interiors and exteriors alike, are bathed in soft light, looking like the work of a superior art director with an extremely felicitous eye for color. His actors are even more aesthetically pleasing, garbed in pure lines and fabrics. Even the gray school uniforms subtly blend with the surrounding hues. Striking storytelling with an almost folkloric resonance should find a niche on cable.


Seen from the perspective of a woman’s limited choices in a male-dominated society, Senecal’s film transforms Haiti’s deterministic cultural mores into fairy-tale fatalism. The characters struggle to reconcile a richness of experience and a wealth of emotion with a poverty of options.

When her father suddenly dies of a heart attack in the States, Jessica (Jessica Geneus), who is still in school, finds herself with no means of support. She takes refuge with less-than-respectable girlfriend Johanne (Soledad Elizabeth Jean), who takes care of her to spare her from a life of prostitution.

Serenely gorgeous, Jessica receives her share of lucrative offers, but when Johanne requires an expensive operation, Jessica accepts a $10,000 offer from a vile old man (Roland Dorfeuille) to spend a night in his bed.

Meanwhile her schoolmate and best friend Bobby (Jerry Lentz Rocher) waits in the wings. Into this mix comes a rich expatriate Ralph Baptiste (Jimmy Jean-Louis) on a mysterious mission; he begins openly courting Jessica.

Jessica must choose between a life of ease with Ralph in America or a subsistence existence with Bobby in Haiti. Visually, Jessica and Ralph are a couple, two inescapably beautiful people who seem to belong together for pure aesthetic reasons. The actors’ thesping skills also make scenes between them spark with electricity, while Lentz’s Bobby moves with a stiffness that matches his unbending morality.

Tech credits, almost all the work of Senecal, are excellent and the choice of music by Tripping Live and 718 Boyz is particularly inventive.

Camera (color, DV), Senecal; music, Tripping Live and 718 Boyz; sound, John Mogene; assistant director Haendel Dorfeuille. Reviewed on DVD at Brooklyn Film Festival, June 6, 2006. Running time: 106 MIN.
With Jessica Geneus, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Soledad Elizabeth Jean, Jerry Lentz Rocher, Rudolph Moise, Roland Dorfeuille.
(Creole, French dialogue, English Subtitle.)

Comments

comments

31 Archived Responses to “Cousines : The Haitian movie (Cousins)”

  1. ednie Says:
    Thursday February 18th, 2010 at 06:12 PM

    i love this movie…FilmHaiti needs to add more full length movies to there site!

  2. Elie Says:
    Thursday February 25th, 2010 at 11:33 AM

    i like tis movie

  3. Basilien Says:
    Wednesday March 10th, 2010 at 07:23 PM

    ykzl

  4. Basilien Says:
    Wednesday March 10th, 2010 at 07:26 PM

    Ilove Haitians monvies so mush..?

  5. Basilien Says:
    Wednesday March 10th, 2010 at 07:28 PM

    I think every body love haitians monvies..?

  6. Basilien Says:
    Wednesday March 10th, 2010 at 07:30 PM

    I’am okay.

  7. Asmart Says:
    Thursday March 11th, 2010 at 02:39 AM

    They need your help to do that.

  8. makayl22 Says:
    Monday March 15th, 2010 at 03:57 PM

    i never watch it but i am look forward to watch it

  9. JacqueinTexas Says:
    Saturday March 20th, 2010 at 02:04 PM

    This was a very good movie. My first Haitian movie. Jimmy Jean-Louis is the man. WOW

  10. florestalschneider Says:
    Tuesday April 6th, 2010 at 12:49 PM

    movie

  11. sweetladi Says:
    Saturday April 10th, 2010 at 09:40 PM

    Is anyone else having problems viewing any of these movies. I can’t seem to get it to play. Can anyone help?

  12. ocelin Says:
    Saturday April 24th, 2010 at 10:43 PM

    This movie is really beatiful but the romantic approach of Ralph was disgusting. I hate the producer who badly portrayed Ralph (the money man) like arrogant and self-centered. Monied People are sometimes humble, educated, and cajoling. They know how to approach a woman with technique wisdom and romance. Ralph was a better fit for Jessica and his love looks genuine, sincere, and true. By the way, the end of the movie is really fascinating when Ralph (the money man) made his opponent find a part time job to have a decent life with the woman Ralph himself failed to conquer. I have viewed this movie over and over. The ethical part is really amazing.

  13. Tweets that mention Cousins | FilmHaiti.com -- Topsy.com Says:
    Monday April 26th, 2010 at 08:14 AM

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Macenat J Elysee. Macenat J Elysee said: Reading: "Cousins | FilmHaiti.com"( http://twitthis.com/jkidrx ) [...]

  14. Jahz Says:
    Thursday May 13th, 2010 at 08:52 PM

    Is this available for purchase anywhere on line? It doesn’t stream well on line.

  15. TI .ZOE Says:
    Thursday June 3rd, 2010 at 05:09 PM

    FILM LIKE THAT MAKE ANYONE GOES TO THE DEEPEST OF OUR REALITY ,SPECIALLY OUR HAITIAN SOCIETY . AS A HAITIAN BORN AND RAISED, ‘COUSINES’ HAS TAKE ME BACK TO SOME OF MY GUILT,LACK OF RESPECT AND IDEA OF OWNERSHIP TOWARD OUR SISTERS IN HAITI.AS WAS SAID IN THE FILM (FAM PA KA BOUZIN SI NOU MEM GASON PA POUSE’L FEL) I DID ENJOYED WATCHING THE FILM .LET THEM KEEP COMING UP PLEASE..

  16. Stephane Says:
    Friday July 9th, 2010 at 04:50 PM

    I’ve been waiting for this movie so long. The first day i saw it was in Haiti. I love it so much. Congratilations my Haitian People.

  17. Friday Cinema « Ghana Films Says:
    Thursday July 22nd, 2010 at 10:39 PM

    [...] showcase Cousines . A story about a young woman who must choose between love and money, is a simple moral fable [...]

  18. artist2k12009 Says:
    Monday August 2nd, 2010 at 01:01 AM

    Not bad, i just hope the dialogue gets better next time

  19. Patrick Noze Says:
    Saturday August 21st, 2010 at 06:42 PM

    Chapo Ba! This film is perhaps one of the better produced Haitian films. the Story is as sense of survival, “Chien Mange Chien” I found it interesting how the film reflect some true Haitian Characteristics. I hope the Haitian producers continue to create films , such as ” Cousins”. This film does not insult ones intelligence and remain true to the Haitian culture. Well Done.

    Patrick Noze

    Artist , Painter, Sculptor
    http://www.patricknoze.com

  20. fred Says:
    Wednesday October 6th, 2010 at 05:36 AM

    how to download this movie? is that possible?

  21. admin Says:
    Sunday October 10th, 2010 at 09:14 PM

    We will allow high definition movie downloads soon.

  22. Fermin Antonio Vargas Says:
    Thursday February 3rd, 2011 at 04:54 PM

    HolaJe suis né dans le territoire dominicain, mais mes parents etaint haitienne et dominicain.
    Je veux aller a travailler en Haiti en faveur des plus besoins, mais je ne sais pas oú aller et A qui je dois contacter.

    Visitez ma web http://www.letsgoforhaiti.com et vous pouvez me contacter su ma boite et mon celulaire si vouz pensez que vous pouvez me faire trouver des contacts en Haiti.

    Dieux vous…

  23. Gregory Says:
    Monday March 28th, 2011 at 07:08 AM

    je suis tres cool

  24. EDDY Says:
    Thursday May 19th, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    I LIKE THIS MOVIE IT’S VERY INTERESTHING

  25. ERICK DUCASSE Says:
    Friday June 24th, 2011 at 06:41 PM

    T LOVE THIS MOVIE . BRAVO BRAVO . IS THIS BASE ON A TRUE STORY? / ANYWAY CONGRADULATONS .BON TRAVAIL TOUTE MOUNE . JESSICA GOOD JOB VERY GOOD ACTRESS AND JOHANNE FABULOUS BOUZIN ……..

  26. admin Says:
    Friday June 24th, 2011 at 07:11 PM

    Happy you’re happy Erick! But since you’re so happy, why don’t you consider making a small donation. It will definitely help us offer you and the community even better movies. I think we are the only website offering free legal streaming of Haitian films on the internet.

  27. Nikke Says:
    Wednesday July 6th, 2011 at 07:21 AM

    I absolutely love this movie. It shows you that love is stronger then money and that they’re are some good guys and girls out there we just have to wait and look hard enough for the right person

  28. Jimmy Jean-Louis Talks About the Toussaint Louverture Movie, Family Life and Hollywood :: Kreyolicious.com Says:
    Friday December 23rd, 2011 at 01:23 PM

    [...] were in a couple of Haitian movies. Not two, but three, Cousines, Life Outside of Pearl, Le President a-t-il Le Sida? I was actually in four. Moloch [...]

  29. BEATRICE DESIRE Says:
    Friday July 20th, 2012 at 09:21 PM

    THIS MOVIES TOOK ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD AS A HAITIAN WOMAN.IM SO PROUD TO BE ONE.MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT TO OUR HAITIAN WOMEN.YEAHHHHHHHH.AVE-OU MAP MACHE

  30. raoul berquin Says:
    Thursday August 2nd, 2012 at 12:49 AM

    l’histoire est triste et interesente epuis ce qui m’attire de plus c’est la sonorisation.Good job!

  31. dula Says:
    Tuesday September 11th, 2012 at 07:51 PM

    thats nice

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