MIAMI FILM FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

By Josephine Cafffin

The 2018 movie In Search of Voodoo: Roots To Heaven was born of Djimon Hounsou’s call to replace the warped lens through which society views the Voodoo way of life. Directed, narrated and co-written by the Beninese native, actor/model Djimon Hounsou and co-writer Douglas Thompson, the piece endeavors to clear the dark haze that has been parasitizing Voodoo for centuries. I believe it successfully provides insight and education on the subject, but not without raising even more curiosity about other aspects of Voodoo, briegly mentioned in the feature-length documentary.

The movie begins with Djimon Hounsou as a large figure in the frame, sitting high above the audience, speaking with a slow, steady and strong tempo. As he begins to narrate the story of Voodoo, graphic overlays provide imagery; the two brothers that fought, one of which being banished to the frigid north, and the other allowed to stay in Africa and protect the earth. The former becoming the white men, who returned centuries later to avenge the Africans through enslavement and displacement. Hounsou’s heavy involvement with all aspects of the documentary, I first considered, could pose a potential threat to the objectivism of the piece. I find that his involvement, however, results in the form of the ideal medium and strong guide. Because he was raised in Benin until age 12 and thereafter lived in France, where he witnessed the opposing mentalities up-close from a young age – perhaps even the opinions of those who were brainwashed by Hollywood’s representation of Voodoo. He also had the surreal experience of playing the role an African slave in his first big break in Amistad, Spielberg (1997).

While I learned a lot, a few moments in the film snagged my curiosity. I craved to know more about the various deities and the very different forms of worship and traditions, the use of plants in rituals, Voodoo medicine and witchdoctors. Seeing the imagery cut from one groups’ form of worship and another’s totally different style was very telling of the many facets of that way of life. I appreciate that this movie raises awareness not only on the misunderstanding of voodoo, but of so many important sociological issues. The idea that we are so different plagues society and removes the opportunity for peace and unified universal progression. I had a moment when, about halfway into the movie, Djimon compares animal sacrifice to factory farms and slaughter houses in “first world” countries. He explains that the animals that are sacrificed to the deities are respected, loved and have names. The animals are thanked beforehand, then their blood is given to the shrine of the deity or bathed in to wash away evil – expressing how the animals are viewed as pure- and lastly, the flesh is shared by the people and a meal is prepared. This is so much more beautiful and respectful than the way our steak and popcorn chicken lived and died.