SLAFF – Stones in the Sun

Screening as part of the 9th Sydney Latin American Film Festival

Stones in the Sun

Review by Geoff

Written and directed by Patricia Benoit, Stones in the Sun is an intimate portrait detailing the consequences of political upheaval in Haiti. Set in 1980s, it traces the lives of Haitian refugees through vignettes in both the film’s present and past.

In parts, it’s a graphic account of the effects brutal regimes have on the lives of innocent citizens. However, while there are some truly tough scenes, this film also has a strikingly, tender subtly, rendering it’s characters on a very human scale.

The filmmakers on set

This film beautifully depicts the struggle, divergent ideas, beliefs and memories of its characters. Their lives are told in three separate stories that have a brief, but poignant, intersection.

There’s extraordinary communication without words in the collage of scenes, taking the adage ‘show, don’t tell’ to exceptional heights. An outstanding cast of actors engage with the heart, and remind us of why people become refugees.

While set in the past, this is a timely film. In an era where we seem to prefer labels grouping people as ‘other’ – arguably reducing our ability to empathise with them – this film goes a long way to humanising the current refugee debate, high on the political agenda of so many countries.

Sydney Latin American Film Festival continues until 10 September