Coming on the heels of the announcement that popular singer-turned-politician Michel Martelly will be Haiti’s next president, the documentary ‘When the Drum is Beating’ could not be more timely. The documentary premieres at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.
The 20-member band Septentrional has been making music for 62 years as Haiti’s most celebrated big band. This inspirational documentary charts the history of Haiti from its triumphant independence from French colonialism to 2010’s devastating earthquake—all set to the vibrant music of Haitian-Caribbean jazz fusion band Septentrional and punctuated with its members’ personal memories. Featuring a wealth of live rehearsal and performance footage, When the Drum Is Beating is a poignant and high-energy story of resilience.