Filmmaker: Nothing can prepare you for Haiti
By LUKE HENDRY THE INTELLIGENCER

Doug Knutson spent a week looking for some hope in hell. The filmmaker and owner of Belleville's Windswept Productions returned April 28 from filming a documentary in Haiti. "It's hard to believe you're on the same planet," said Knutson. "Nothing can really prepare you for it." He said the "overwhelming" experience began the moment he left the air-conditioned plane and moved "from breathable air to pollution and stench and dust." Knutson was there with workers of Montreal-based charity Vision Citadelle.

He first met Joseph Aristal, a Haitian pastor, in 2006 while in the Dominican Republic. Moved by the pastor's efforts to help his people, Knutson began raising funds -- and donating much of his own money -- to help Aristal. He later joined forces with Vision Citadelle and now aids his friend through the organization. Staff of the charity visited Knutson's church, Belleville's Victoria Baptist, in 2008.
His film, Haiti: Finding Heaven in Hell, documents the work of both Vision Citadelle and Aristal.
Read More...