RACHELLE
SALNAVE
This is a story about the other side of Haiti. . . the voices and images you do not see in the media, the images that remain hidden and a story that will invoke a dialogue about prejudice seldom discussed and often buried. . .
Harlem’s Mart 125: the American Dream is a documentary film about the history of Mart 125 and how it correlates to the “revitalization” of 125th street, Harlem’s main commercial sector. This film takes its viewers on a historical journey, which depicts the economic transition of 125th street from the late 1960’s to present day. Mart 125 is used as a metaphor, which examines the plague of
perplexities that surround this unique black community and its relationship with the plans of urban renewal from a commercial standpoint. Harlem’s Mart 125: the American Dream portrays a microcosmic analysis of the displacement of Black American communities today. This is a story that takes an introspective look at the changing face of the most well known African-American neighborhood and a complexity of issues that surround this community in peril!
La Belle Vie: The Good Life is a story about a Haitian-American filmmaker, Rachelle Salnave’s journey to discover her Haitian roots by examining the complexities of the Haitian society as it pertains to the overall political and economic dichotomy in Haiti. Using her own personal family stories interconnected with capturing the voices of Haitians and experts overall, this film chronologically uncovers the rational behind its social class system but also how it has affected the Haitian American migration experience as well. With the proliferation of political turmoil, poverty, and now an Earthquake shattered nation, La Belle Vie: The Good Life in the end beckons all to lay down their arms, be it the tangible weapons of death and pain or the psychological and spiritual tools of division and prejudice, and work as one to rebuild and prosper in the name of a new and stronger Haiti.
This film in the end invokes the question whether or not its tragic event will shift the consciousness of all Haitians (living in Haiti or abroad) by motivating them to unite to build a new Haiti.
La Belle Vie: The Good Life will be touring film festival’s 2014-2015. Stay tuned : facebook.com/pages/La-Belle-Vie-The-Good-Life/164249816926166?ref=hl
Rachelle Salnave
Born in Harlem, New York, Haitian-American filmmaker, Rachelle Salnave has balanced an extensive range of professional experiences. In a 10-year span, Salnave has documented her community by creating a film about the gentrification of Harlem, called “Harlem’s Mart 125: The American Dream” which has toured the country in 2010 and won “Best Documentary” at the 2010 African World Documentary Film Festival in St. Louis, Missouri. Harlem’s Mart 125’ screened at the 2011 National Urban League Conference held in Boston and also during the “America I Am: The African American Imprint” exhibit at the Missouri History Museum presented by Tavis Smiley. In April 2012, Wine Spector Magazine awarded Salnave “Grant Recipient” of the year for her work in showcasing Top Chef Celebrity, Ron Duprat.
In an effort to close down the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Salnave’s work “The Haitian Guantanamo Bay Experience: The Legal Journey” is part of a series of short stories on display in a National exhibit called the “Guantanamo Public Memory Project” spearheaded by Columbia University.
After completing her Master’s degree in Motion Pictures at the University of Miami in May of 2014, she developed Ayiti Images, a Florida traveling film series which showcases Haitian films and its directors. Sponsored by Knight Foundation, Green Family Foundation and FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center, the series has received a plethora of support throughout the wider Florida community as being a groundbreaking community event. In March 2015, The General Consulate of the Republic of Haiti in Miami nominated Salnave with the “Beacon of Hope and Achievement” award in honor of International Women’s Month. Sundance Institute has selected Salnave as the 2015 Screenwriters Intensive Fellow.
Salnave traveled to Guatemala and created a short documentary, The Heavenly Nut Story, which looks at one family’s mission to save the environment by planting macadamia nut trees. Currently, her feature documentary film, “La Belle Vie: The Good Life,” a film about her personal Haitian experience is touring the country in film festivals.
Rachelle Salnave serves as an Adjunct Film Professor at Miami Dade College.
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