Raoul Peck, who directed the 2016 documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” has revealed his next documentary. “The Hands That Held the Knives” will explore the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The documentary, which took more than two years to create, is expected to be similar to the works of Graham Greene and John Le Carré. Peck gained access to the individuals involved in Moïse’s killing, and even covertly filmed inside Haiti’s prison system. The documentary will delve into Haitian politics, its connection to the U.S., and the corruption and criminality in the country, including drug and weapon trafficking.
“I am eager to tell the true story of my country beyond the stereotypical and sensationalized narratives,” Peck stated. “I want to uncover, without reservation, the fundamental stories and real causes behind Haiti’s tragic circumstances.”
Peck’s previous work includes the documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” which explores racism in the United States through the lens of writer James Baldwin. The documentary received a BAFTA and César Award, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary. He has also worked on the film “Silver Dollar Road” and the HBO miniseries “Exterminate All the Brutes.”
Peck is producing the film through his Velvet Films banner in collaboration with Jigsaw Productions, Imagine Documentaries, Anonymous Content, and Double Agent, who is funding the project. Alex Gibney, for Jigsaw, and Blair Foster are also producers. Sara Bernstein is the executive producer representing Imagine, along with Nick Shumaker, David Levine, and Jessica Grimshaw from Anonymous Content. Dana O’Keefe produces on behalf of Double Agent, with Teddy Schwarzman, Yariv Milchan, and Michael Heimler serving as executive producers.
“This is a story that only Raoul Peck can tell,” Gibney mentioned. “As a former Minister of Culture in Haiti, Raoul has profound insight into Haiti’s politics and is uniquely qualified as a filmmaker to narrate this tale, which holds global significance as governments succumb one by one to the ruthless pursuit of wealth and power.”
