Faustin Wirkus – miner, American, and former Marine of Polish descent, reminisces the occupation of Haiti started by the USA in 1915. He goes back to the events on the island of Gonâve, whose administrator he had been between 1925 and 1929.
Faustin Wirkus never decided to disobey his superiors. In 1929 he received orders to leave Gonâve.
Despite his friendship with the local population, or even the fact that they declared him king, he followed the order without objection. In later years, he returned several times to the island, as a tourist. He published an autobiographical book “The White King of la Gonâve”. In 1933, he starred in “Voodoo”, a film that has since gone missing. He drifted from one job to the other, among others investing with some success on the stock exchange. He died in the USA in 1945, at the age of 48.
Production: Center for Contemporary Art Zamek Ujazdowski
Exhibition: Never Embrace Burning Statues
Opening: 28 November 2019
Length: 9 min.
Directors: Róża Duda, Michał Soja
Screenplay: Róża Duda, Michał Soja, Łukasz Zawada
Text: Łukasz Zawada
Camera, lighting: Piotr Podsiadło, Paweł Soja
Music: Bartosz Zaskórski, Mchy i Porosty
In the role of Faustin Wirkus: Adam Zduńczyk
Mastering: Piotr Figiel
Costumes: Marta Szypulska, Ireneusz Zając
Animation: Róża Duda, Michał Soja
Technical support with animation: Karol Wójcicki
Curator: Marta Lisok
Exhibition coordinator: Sara Szostak
Artistic mentor: Robert Sowa