03/09/2026
Online Film Screening – Douvan Jou Ka Leve (The Sun Will Rise)
by Gessica Généus
Date & Time: Friday, March 20, 2026 at 1 p.m. EST/12 p.m. CT/ 10 a.m. PST
https://buff.ly/MFtMTA0
This intimate documentary by filmmaker Gessica Généus tackles the complex issue of mental health illness in Haitian society. Using her mother’s bipolar disorder, Généus explores what she refers to as an “illness of the soul” to examine how personal trauma is intertwined with centuries of cultural and religious colonization in Haiti. The film blends poetic narration with intimate footage in a way that invites viewers to address the issue of mental illness with compassion, care and understanding.
Yolette Williams, CEO of The Haitian American Alliance of New York (HAA), will join us after the film for a discussion with moderator Jaïra Placide (CUNY Haitian Studies Institute at Brooklyn College). A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Psychotherapist, and Board-Certified Neurofeedback Specialist, Ms. Williams co-led annual medical and mental health missions to Haiti, including trauma counseling and training for professionals after the 2010 earthquake. The conversation will center on how mental health illness impacts Haitians and Haitian diasporic women in particular.