Film South Florida.com: Describe Once There Was A Country: Revisiting Haiti in 20 words or less.

Green: A family with tuberculosis and a man with AIDS and their journey to health in the extreme contrasts of Hai
 
Film South Florida.com: What was the film's source of inspiration?
 
Green: I was very inspired by those who fight for social justice round the world and who don't wait around for someone else to take action, but begin where they can and however they can. As global citizens in a world with the technology and monetary capabilities to alleviate poverty and ease suffering, we are now given an incredible opportunity to do our part in changing the world, and I feel that doing this film has been our small contribution.
 
Film South Florida.com: What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome while making Once There Was A Country?
 
Green: Besides the roads in Haiti? One difficulty that we faced was
convincing people that we were not going to exploit them or portray them in a negative light. Once we passed that hurdle, people were eager to participate and opened their homes and hearts to us.
 
Film South Florida.com: What was the most memorable moment of making Once There Was A Country?
 
Green: Wow. There were so many exciting and life changing experiences, from filming a voodoo ceremony during a lunar eclipse, swimming in the reflection of stars in a pool on the grounds of one of the first hospitals in Haiti, to watching families line up by the hundreds to see the first doctor they have ever seen in their lives.
 
Film South Florida.com: How important is it to you and your film that it is screening during the MIFF?
 
Green: It's a wonderful opportunity to reach not only the Haitian community living in the diaspora, but also to reach the rest of the Miami community who are their neighbors.
 
Film South Florida.com: How has living in Florida shaped your vision as a filmmaker?
 
Green: The diversity and flavor in Miami serves as its own source of inspiration. At the same time, in such an international city we are able to listen to perspectives from around the world. Miami is a fast growing city, and yet is able to retain the familiarity of a small town.

Once There Was A Country: Revisiting Haiti will screen 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 at Cosford Cinema, University of Miami, Second Floor, Memorial Building, Coral Gables; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Regal South Beach Cinema 18, 1100 Lincoln Road, South Beach. Visit http://www.miamifilmfestival.com/2005/detail.asp?
filmid=F05-274 for more information.

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