Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

The Agronomist is a documentary about Jean Dominique who was a Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist. The title of the film actually comes from Jean’s first profession. He was an agronomist, or an expert in soil management and field-crop production, in Haiti after receiving degrees in agriculture. However, there was more in store for Jean and cinema would be the first thing that lead him on his path to journalism and human rights.

Jean discovered cinema while in France and realized that it held a lot of power. Specifically it had the power to tell stories and effect change. Upon returning home to Haiti Jean started a club for people interested in cinema in Haiti and actually produced the first ever film filmed and produced by a Haitian in Haiti (that’s a mouthful).

Through his experiences with cinema he learned the power of the media and one day, while he was working at Radio Haiti, the owner of the station offered to sell the station to him. Jean accepted the offer and the rest, as we say, is history.

Jean went on to be the face of human rights in Haiti and will be forever known by the people of Haiti as a man of and for the people.

Since I was a child during a lot of the issues Haiti had I didn’t know much about the situation there and this documentary enlightened me on what happened there over the 70s, 80s and 90s. The movie was pretty fascinating and it’ll definitely pull the viewer outside of their comfort zone. I’d urge everyone to check this film out if they have a chance. It’s well worth it even though it isn’t a technical cinematic masterpiece.

Side note: To tie things into this blog – Jean was a media pioneer in Haiti the same way a lot of the New Media folks are today. If you are a new media person this is a film you should check out. I am sure it will inspire you.