On 28 July 1958, coming from Florida a group of former Haitian military officers landed in Délugé, in the north of Haiti's capital. In no time they conquer the "Dessaline barracks" located behind the National Palace. Their plan: overthrowing President, Dr. François Duvalier elected a year ago. The group includes former Capitain Alix "Sonson" Pasquet, and former Lieutenants Henri "Riquet" Perpignan and Phillipe "Fito" Dominique accompanied by five American soldiers of fortune. A fierce battle between Duvalier and his attackers is waged, which in the end is won by Duvalier. The night of 28th to 29th of June 1958 will significantly shape Haiti's political history as 29 years of brutal and repressive Duvalier dictatorship follow.

The movie tries to reconstruct the so-called "Sheriff Invasion" with archival footage, interviews and specially made, great illustrations and animations and thereby, illuminates a so-far little known but central event in the recent history of Haiti.

Haïti, 2013, Documentary, 1hr30, animation, English Version

Director : Mario Delatour
Editing: Carl Lafontant,
Drawings: Pierre Chevelain,
Animation: James Basile.

"The movie invokes a multitude of questions regarding Pasquet's attempted coup which takes place at a time when Duvalier starts showing his claws. Immediately after the invasion Duvalier openly establishes his infamous militias, the „Tontons Macoutes", before declaring himself President for life shortly after (…) A must-see movie." Alterpress
www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article16139


2014 | Ciné-Club AfricAvenir Berlin | at Hackesche Höfe Kino (filmhouse) (Rosenthalerstr. 40/41, Berlin)
* Screening : Tuesday, 3 June 2014, 8pm
* German Premiere
* Director Mario Delatour in attendance
www.africavenir.org/news-archive/newsdetails/datum/2014/04/29/deutschlandpremiere-storming-papa-doc-the-siege-of-haitis-casernes-dessalines-by-alix-pasquet-on.html

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Am 28. Juli 1958 landen Ex-Offiziere der Haïtianischen Armee von Florida kommend in Délugé, im Norden der Hauptstadt Haïtis. Im Handumdrehen nehmen sie die „Dessaline Kasernen"ein, die sich hinter dem Präsidentenpalast befinden. Ihr Ziel: Der Sturz des ein Jahr zuvor gewählten Präsidenten, Dr. François Duvalier. Bei den Ex-Offizieren handelt es sich um den ehem. Hauptmann Alix Pasquet und den ehem. Oberleutnants Henry Perpignand und Philippe Dominique, begleitet von fünf US Söldnern. Es kommt zu einem langen Schlagabtausch zwischen François Duvalier und den Angreifern, in dem Duvalier schlussendlich die Oberhand behält. Die Nacht des 28. auf den 29. Juli 1958 wird die politische Geschichte Haïtis nachhaltig prägen, denn es folgen 29 Jahre brutale und repressive Duvalier-Diktatur.

Haïti, 2013, 90 Min., Engl. Version

Regisseur: Mario Delatour,
Schnitt: Carl Lafontant,
Zeichnungen: Pierre Chevelain,
Animationen: James Basile.