Haiku filmmakers Vincent Goudreau and Javier Martinez crossed borders, boundaries, cultures and continents to capture "Compositions in Departure," a film that explores displacement and the idea of home. The 35-minute piece, shot on digital video and 16 mm film, will debut at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Historic Iao Theatre in Wailuku. A donation of $10 is requested.
Shot in China, Ghana and Mexico, the film unites three individuals from three different continents. One individual willingly left his home; one faces an inability to leave; and the third wants to leave and is left virtually alone. The film, which was nearly four years in the making, reveals a common ground among all people through shared human experiences, according to the filmmakers.
"When you go to a new place, you learn new things about that culture," Martinez said. "And you also learn about your culture in removing yourself from it."
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Vincent Goudreau is shown in Beijing’s Forbidden City during filmmaking in 2008
Martinez, originally from California, and Goudreau, from Arizona, moved to Maui eight years ago. The two share a background in fine arts and met while studying at the California Institute of the Arts.
Martinez said the film employs a fresh approach: While it is a documentary, the filmmakers experiment with the different approaches to storytelling. Their conceptual art experience is evident in their piece as they push the boundaries of documentary work, he added.
"One thing that I love and enjoy are the films where two days later, you're still thinking about it," Martinez said. "We're not trying to create a blockbuster action film; we're trying not to make a one liner. For me and for Vincent, a successful film is something that stays with you, and you're thinking about it days or weeks later."
- Kehaulani Cerizo
