THE AGRONOMIST

The Agronomist is inspired by the pioneering work of Haitian journalist and human rights activist Jean Dominique. Filmmaker Jonathan Demme shot many hours of footage with Dominique over ten years. This joint project between Demme and Dominique was tragically cut short in April 2000 when, in the turmoil leading up to elections, Jean Dominique was assassinated outside his radio station, Radio Haiti Inter. The Agronomist is a portrait of Dominique, his extraordinary wife and partner, Michèle Montas, and, through them, the extraordinary history of Haiti. I approached Jean Dominique in 1991 to propose a «portrait documentary» as an excuse to get to know this amazing man I had met only once previously. He was in exile. He was bored. He agreed. We became friends. His life and his vision of a democratic Haiti got swept up in his countrys turmoil over the next ten years. This film is a tribute to a great guy and his unfulfilled dreams. (Jonathan Demme)