When the Drum Is Beating

Fusing voodoo beats to the big band style, the music of the band Septentrional has merged with six decades of Haiti's turbulent history─acting as its soul, conscience, and voice. This sweeping documentary relates the story of the band and explores its connections to the nation's past revolutions and natural disasters, as well as the abuses of the Duvalier dictatorship and the hope nourished by democratically elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. 84 min. Soundtrack: English and Creole; Subtitles: English; interview; more. In English and Creole with English subtitles.