Ghosts of Cité Soleil poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Wyclef Jean, Winson "2Pac" Jean, James Petit Frère, ??leonore Senlis

During the embattled final months of Jean-Bertrand Aristide's second term as president of Haiti, Aristide's allies recruited street gangs from the nation's poorest cities to act as strong-arm men, hel... read more read more...ping to shut down resistance to Aristide and quiet those who opposed him. Called chimères (or "ghosts"), these gang-bangers became a powerful part of Aristide's forces until the president was removed from office by a coup d'etat in 2004. Dutch filmmaker Asger Leth combines mockumentary reenactments with footage shot in the ghettos of Cité Soleil during Aristide's final days in this powerful drama that follows two brothers and chimères, Billy (James Petit Frere) and 2Pac (Winson Jean). Billy dreams of someday leaving behind the gang life and becoming part of Aristide's political machine, while 2Pac has become disillusioned with politics and wants to become a rap star in the manner of his hero and namesake, Tupac Shakur. In a place where political allegiances shift every day and brutal violence is commonplace, Billy and 2Pac's relationship is already a tense one, but matters become even more difficult between them when they both fall in love with the same woman -- Lele (Eleonore Senlis), a French social worker who understands the power these men hold better than they do themselves. Ghosts of Cité Soleil features a musical score by Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, who also appears in the film in a scene in which he discusses music and politics with 2Pac. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

13,969 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

53 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Asger Leth, Milos Loncarevic

Release Date: September 1, 2006

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 20, 2007

Stats: 417 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Ghosts of Cité Soleil
Upload a Photo | View All Ghosts of Cité Soleil Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (417)

  • gor41
    April 10, 2008
    gor41
    Extraordinary access to the documentary subjects allows a frightening world to come to life.
  • sanjurosamurai
    April 1, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    haunting, stunning, and as real as it gets. i had a spiritual expirience watching this film that cannot be described with words, one of the most impactful films i have ever seen. this is the sort of film that reminds people that the world is a horrible place for many who live i... read moren it. a film about fear, suffering, anxiety, and death, this is 85 of the most impactful minutes a person can expirience watching a movie. this film left me heartbroken.
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 20, 2009
    dukeakasmudge
    Its funny how you can have all the power & somebody can come in out of nowhere & just take it from you
  • amc8
    July 21, 2007
    amc8
    Give me at least one good reason why this film should have done better and I promise you if it is true you probably had to cut the space time continum to do it.

View All Ghosts of Cité Soleil Reviews

Critic Reviews

Kevin Crust
July 12, 2007
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

An expressionistic portrait of a society in violent chaos, the film blends cinà (C)ma và (C)rità (C) and newsreel footage to capture a modern-day tragedy with Shakespearean overtones. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
June 29, 2007
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

[An] indelible documentary, which dives into the brutal heart of a place most people would avoid at all cost. Full Review

Rafer Guzman
June 28, 2007
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

The director, Asger Leth, isn't terribly organized, but he puts us smack in the middle of everything: petty squabbles, horrible riots, casual shootings, even a love triangle. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
June 27, 2007
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

A moving and profoundly upsetting portrait of life near the bottom of the global power pyramid. Full Review

A.O. Scott
June 27, 2007
A.O. Scott, New York Times

Asger Leth's Ghosts of Cité Soleil offers a tour of a notorious, hellish slum in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

J. Hoberman
June 27, 2007
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

That the most powerful aspect of this story is described rather than shown is one of Ghosts' many mysteries. Another is Leth's remarkable access to his subjects. Full Review

Sura Wood
June 26, 2007
Sura Wood, Hollywood Reporter

It's an unforgettable, visceral journey into the heart of darkness, grueling poverty and anarchy.

Owen Gleiberman
June 20, 2007
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

A spectacularly turbulent portrait of the chaos and bloodshed that have come to define Haiti. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
September 27, 2006
Todd McCarthy, Variety

If only due to the access achieved, there has never been anything quite like Asger Leth's film; it's amazing it even exists and that the director is still alive. Full Review

Marty Mapes
June 26, 2008
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit

Packs an emotional punch, but that only partly makes up for the lack of a good story Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
    Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (98%)
  • Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream
    Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mains... (60%)

More Movies like Ghosts of Cité Soleil

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Ghosts of Cité So... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Ghosts of Cité Soleil. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Ghosts of Cité Soleil Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Ghosts of Cité Soleil to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

BabyCham Skin by BabyCham
105 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins