Now, more than ever, pop culture and politics cross paths. Politicians are active on Twitter, paying attention to social trends, and appearing on daytime TV such as Hillary Clinton and proving how in tune they are with presentations of the latest dance moves.
The two supposed separate entities are seamlessly blending together. Examining that intersect is Haitian American Pras Michel of The Fugees in his newly released documentary, “Sweet Micky For President.”
According to Michel, “The inspiration came from after seeing the earthquake historical devastation in Haiti. As a Haitian American, I didn’t want to just sit back idly and do nothing. I wanted to use my platform to try and make a difference.”
In this film, music and politics literally collide as Haiti’s most controversial musician, Michel Martelly aka Sweet Micky, and Pras’ former band mate, Wyclef Jean, mobilize to run to be the next Haitian president following the 2010 earthquake.
While politics acts as a backdrop for the film, it isn’t necessarily the focus.
“This film is about the people’s voices being heard, it’s about hope, the resiliency of the Haitian people, and most of all about how it takes one person to start a change,” Michel said.
Throughout the film Michel, who is a co-producer and the star, captures the audience as a riveting storyteller under Ben Patterson’s direction.
What sets out as a documentary to capture the lives of what is going on in Haiti after the earthquake became an opportunity to examine how pop culture’s influence could weigh in as the basis to elect a leader.
According to the “Sweet Micky For President” website, Patterson says, “What was initially meant to document the post-earthquake recovery, soon became a whirlwind introduction to the world of international politics. Ben has always wanted to make a feature film, and was immediately drawn to the story of an unlikely candidate’s run for president of Haiti, how artists can change the world, and what it takes to elect a leader.”
Officially in theaters screening at Cinema Village in Greenwich Village, Michel hopes the film portrays Haitians in a positive light.
“We hope to get people all over to enjoy the film but more importantly for the first time on a mainstream level, the Haitian people get to a see a project that displays their culture in a positive light,” Michel said.
