I was fortunate to attend a packed San Francisco screening of the "Road to Fondwa" hosted by the documentary's director and producer, Justin Brandon. In his second documentary- Brandon and his team tell the amazing story of a marginalized nation and its people, who, in the face of all calamity have banded together as a community to create their own infrastructure, amplify their own education, and ultimately, to realize their full potential as Haitians and as humans. The word "konbit" in Creole signifies that when we all put our efforts together the work is lighter - it's a sentiment of coming together for a greater purpose. This documentary offers a window into the opportunities of community. It is vibrant, lyrical, poignant and touching. Using his lens as both a kaleidoscope and a paintbrush, Brandon underlines the larger themes of human potentiality. Yes, this film is about Haiti, but so too is it about something much larger, something far more elemental. We have seen how the hyper-connectivity of modernity links us tighter together. John Donne taught us that "no man is an island," and as Americans separated by only the briefest sliver of water from our Haitian brothers, it would be wise to remember that as global citizens we learn a lesson in camaraderie and common purpose that "The Road to Fondwa so eloquently provides. The documentary shows that when we act as one, anything is possible. The only insurmountable adversity is the one we create in our own solitude.
