The Tropic Sun and His Eyes
Cap-Haitien, Haiti | Film Feature
Adventure, Foreign Film
Shot on land in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, and made by a 95% local Haitian team, our narrative feature is a dreamy coming-of-age adventure that explores mental health through a futuristic lens and uses fantastical imagination to break toxic masculinity between a father-and-son.
The Tropic Sun and His Eyes
Cap-Haitien, Haiti | Film Feature
Adventure, Foreign Film
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $5,823 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
79 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Shot on land in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, and made by a 95% local Haitian team, our narrative feature is a dreamy coming-of-age adventure that explores mental health through a futuristic lens and uses fantastical imagination to break toxic masculinity between a father-and-son.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
.jpg)
The Tropic Sun and His Eyes is a dreamy coming-of-age adventure that follows Ruben, a despondent 26-year-old who returns home to Haiti to reconnect with his estranged father on his deathbed. The moment Ruben arrives on land, he is spiritually confronted by childhood memories of his father and struggles to navigate the country he no longer knows.
Along the way, he meets an inquisitive street kid (Young Boy) who insists on accompanying Ruben to his father's house. The Young Boy wants to connect with Ruben on a familial level, but Ruben’s trauma toward family prevents Ruben from being vulnerable to him. This contrast puts a strain on Ruben and the Young Boy’s relationship, but the more they open up to each other, the more they learn about themselves.
The Young Boy’s youthfulness inspires Ruben to embrace his radical imagination that ignites his healing journey. On the other hand, Ruben’s determination to reconnect with his father, despite the pain it causes him, gives the Young Boy hope that one day he will find his own family. As they interact with locals along the way and hear their stories of joy and pain, it becomes apparent that they must love out loud and break generational trauma together.
 (2).jpg)
Mental health is severely neglected in the Caribbean region. According to Nesta, on average a country from the Caribbean only spends 4.3% of its healthcare budget on mental health. In a country like Haiti where healthcare is almost nonexistent, we can only imagine its percentile. There is a need for support, but barely any resources are available.
With this film, we tackle the root of this problem.
Through a deep character study, symbolic visuals, and emphasizing current social issues; we hope to open the floor for conversation and heal others as well.
We want Haitian fathers to take the time to understand their sons on an emotional level. We want Haitian fathers to work on their vulnerability so their sons can follow suit when they grow up. The Tropic Sun and His Eyes is the ultimate healing space.
 (1).jpg)
This is the first time in ten years since a group of U.S filmmakers traveled to Haiti to shoot a project entirely on land.
It was extremely important to us to pour resources back into the country. We casted locally, hired crew locally, and worked with local businesses to empower the people in the country. 95% of this project is created by local Haitians through apprenticeship and collaboration.
.jpg)
With the current negative discourse regarding Haitians, this could not be a more perfect time to release positive imagery about our culture.
.jpg)
.jpg)
I lost my sibling to mental illness over a decade ago. Much like the lead character in this story, my sibling struggled to see eye to eye with my parents due to cultural, societal and generational differences. Before I knew it, and before I could say goodbye, my sibling ran away and never came back. I wonder what my sibling’s perspective is on family? Would they have found a new family to love on? Till this day, the vast majority of Haitian men believe that the primary role of the father is to provide financial support for the family and male dominance. But many times, the son just wants to be loved. Haitian fathers rarely tell their sons “I love you”, and their sons seldom have the confidence to say it to them. The truth is, my sibling may never come back, and they may never have the chance to reconnect with my parents, but in this film, I reimagine what it would look like if this were to come true. The version of Haiti we explore is a mixture of one my people know and love, and one we hope it to be. In other words, this is not the version of Haiti the media portrays. It is simply a story about connection. The connection to oneself and the connection to family. Haitians simply as humans. - Elisee Junior St Preux
.jpg)
For over six months, we fundraised to shoot this story and we are elated to share that production is complete! In addition to community support, we used our own money, stretched our resources, and took life-changing risks to successfully finish principal photography. However, because of this, we are completely out of funds and need you to finish this labor of love.
You have been by our sides since the very beginning. Now we need your help to us get to the finish line and complete post-production. Your assistance will allow us to edit, color, add sound design, and compose original music for the film.
.jpg)
THE TIMELINE
Spring 2025 - Post Production (Editing / Color / Sound / Score / Credits)
Summer 2025 - Finishing Touches / Festival Submissions
Fall 2025 - Premiere
.jpg)
We hope to share this film with a global audience by screening it at film festivals across the world, curating community screenings with mental health & Haitian non-profit organizations, and acquiring distribution for a theatrical or streaming service release. We want this film on your screens!
We need at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds. Feel free choose from our wish list, choose an incentive, or make a pledge. You decide what fits your budget. No contribution is too small. Every dollar counts!
We offer you a new story for Haiti.
We believe Haiti deserves more.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER (X) @thetropicsunmovie
DONATE TODAY | SHARE WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY | SHARE YOUR STORY
THANK YOU!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Original Music Score Deposit
Costs $2,500
Scores influence pace and add tension. Without a score, the story is incomplete. Here, we mix Haitian music with soft impressionistic piano!
Second Edit
Costs $2,500
Editors shape the story, create a cinematic experience, and engage the audience. In other words, they are the last rewrite!
Subtitle Translation
Costs $2,000
Using human voices, music and sound effects; sound design makes the film feel realistic for the audience. We want you to feel immersed!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Director/Executive Producer
Elisee Junior St Preux is a Haitian-American Filmmaker from Miami, FL. Elisee is a Season 1 Director of Indeed's Rising Voices partnered with Hillman Grad Productions, a 53rd NAACP Image Awards nominee, a Sundance Ignite Finalist, an HBO Short Film Award recipient at the American Black Film Festival, an NBAF Emerging Artist Horizon Award Finalist, a WEG Feature Film Lab Fellow, and a Netflix "Created By" Fellow where he held a script development deal to pen an original feature film with the studio.
Elisee is an Advisory Council member of the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival, a brass jazz musician, and a mental health advocate. With a distinct style of vintage storytelling combined with modern cinema, Elisee's solemn goal is to bear witness and share stories that reflect today, honor the past, and reimagine the future.
Director of Photography
Dawit Adera, a cinematographer born and raised in Ethiopia, has loved storytelling from an early age.
He began making documentary and narrative films as a young adult and since then he has had works recognized in prominent film festivals including finalist on one of the top cinematographer festival Camera image.
Dawit is now based in the Los Angeles area and graduated from American Film Institute with an MFA in cinematography. Dawit has a passion for making meaningful films with thought-provoking endings.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The Tropic Sun and His Eyes is a dreamy coming-of-age adventure that follows Ruben, a despondent 26-year-old who returns home to Haiti to reconnect with his estranged father on his deathbed. The moment Ruben arrives on land, he is spiritually confronted by childhood memories of his father and struggles to navigate the country he no longer knows.
Along the way, he meets an inquisitive street kid (Young Boy) who insists on accompanying Ruben to his father's house. The Young Boy wants to connect with Ruben on a familial level, but Ruben’s trauma toward family prevents Ruben from being vulnerable to him. This contrast puts a strain on Ruben and the Young Boy’s relationship, but the more they open up to each other, the more they learn about themselves.
The Young Boy’s youthfulness inspires Ruben to embrace his radical imagination that ignites his healing journey. On the other hand, Ruben’s determination to reconnect with his father, despite the pain it causes him, gives the Young Boy hope that one day he will find his own family. As they interact with locals along the way and hear their stories of joy and pain, it becomes apparent that they must love out loud and break generational trauma together.
Mental health is severely neglected in the Caribbean region. According to Nesta, on average a country from the Caribbean only spends 4.3% of its healthcare budget on mental health. In a country like Haiti where healthcare is almost nonexistent, we can only imagine its percentile. There is a need for support, but barely any resources are available.
With this film, we tackle the root of this problem.
Through a deep character study, symbolic visuals, and emphasizing current social issues; we hope to open the floor for conversation and heal others as well.
We want Haitian fathers to take the time to understand their sons on an emotional level. We want Haitian fathers to work on their vulnerability so their sons can follow suit when they grow up. The Tropic Sun and His Eyes is the ultimate healing space.
This is the first time in ten years since a group of U.S filmmakers traveled to Haiti to shoot a project entirely on land.
It was extremely important to us to pour resources back into the country. We casted locally, hired crew locally, and worked with local businesses to empower the people in the country. 95% of this project is created by local Haitians through apprenticeship and collaboration.
With the current negative discourse regarding Haitians, this could not be a more perfect time to release positive imagery about our culture.
I lost my sibling to mental illness over a decade ago. Much like the lead character in this story, my sibling struggled to see eye to eye with my parents due to cultural, societal and generational differences. Before I knew it, and before I could say goodbye, my sibling ran away and never came back. I wonder what my sibling’s perspective is on family? Would they have found a new family to love on? Till this day, the vast majority of Haitian men believe that the primary role of the father is to provide financial support for the family and male dominance. But many times, the son just wants to be loved. Haitian fathers rarely tell their sons “I love you”, and their sons seldom have the confidence to say it to them. The truth is, my sibling may never come back, and they may never have the chance to reconnect with my parents, but in this film, I reimagine what it would look like if this were to come true. The version of Haiti we explore is a mixture of one my people know and love, and one we hope it to be. In other words, this is not the version of Haiti the media portrays. It is simply a story about connection. The connection to oneself and the connection to family. Haitians simply as humans. - Elisee Junior St Preux
For over six months, we fundraised to shoot this story and we are elated to share that production is complete! In addition to community support, we used our own money, stretched our resources, and took life-changing risks to successfully finish principal photography. However, because of this, we are completely out of funds and need you to finish this labor of love.
You have been by our sides since the very beginning. Now we need your help to us get to the finish line and complete post-production. Your assistance will allow us to edit, color, add sound design, and compose original music for the film.
THE TIMELINE
Spring 2025 - Post Production (Editing / Color / Sound / Score / Credits)
Summer 2025 - Finishing Touches / Festival Submissions
Fall 2025 - Premiere
We hope to share this film with a global audience by screening it at film festivals across the world, curating community screenings with mental health & Haitian non-profit organizations, and acquiring distribution for a theatrical or streaming service release. We want this film on your screens!
We need at least 80% of our crowdfunding goal to keep our funds. Feel free choose from our wish list, choose an incentive, or make a pledge. You decide what fits your budget. No contribution is too small. Every dollar counts!
We offer you a new story for Haiti.
We believe Haiti deserves more.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER (X) @thetropicsunmovie
DONATE TODAY | SHARE WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY | SHARE YOUR STORY
THANK YOU!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Original Music Score Deposit
Costs $2,500
Scores influence pace and add tension. Without a score, the story is incomplete. Here, we mix Haitian music with soft impressionistic piano!
Second Edit
Costs $2,500
Editors shape the story, create a cinematic experience, and engage the audience. In other words, they are the last rewrite!
Subtitle Translation
Costs $2,000
Using human voices, music and sound effects; sound design makes the film feel realistic for the audience. We want you to feel immersed!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Director/Executive Producer
Elisee Junior St Preux is a Haitian-American Filmmaker from Miami, FL. Elisee is a Season 1 Director of Indeed's Rising Voices partnered with Hillman Grad Productions, a 53rd NAACP Image Awards nominee, a Sundance Ignite Finalist, an HBO Short Film Award recipient at the American Black Film Festival, an NBAF Emerging Artist Horizon Award Finalist, a WEG Feature Film Lab Fellow, and a Netflix "Created By" Fellow where he held a script development deal to pen an original feature film with the studio.
Elisee is an Advisory Council member of the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival, a brass jazz musician, and a mental health advocate. With a distinct style of vintage storytelling combined with modern cinema, Elisee's solemn goal is to bear witness and share stories that reflect today, honor the past, and reimagine the future.
Director of Photography
Dawit Adera, a cinematographer born and raised in Ethiopia, has loved storytelling from an early age.
He began making documentary and narrative films as a young adult and since then he has had works recognized in prominent film festivals including finalist on one of the top cinematographer festival Camera image.
Dawit is now based in the Los Angeles area and graduated from American Film Institute with an MFA in cinematography. Dawit has a passion for making meaningful films with thought-provoking endings.