Katrina was a wake up call to all of us here in the U.S. just how poorly our government is run for the most part. It took over 100 hours after the storm had ended before people started to get food, or even clean water. Thousands died in the hurricane, then even more after because of poor planning.
This documentary covers the lives of a married couple as the storm hits through a year later. Before it begins, just hours before we see some home footage that they shot as the storm approaches, and the cockiness is off the charts. They admit that they don't have enough money to get up and leave, I understand that, but here they are along with others saying "Its just a little water, let it come" This disrespect of the raw power of nature is idiotic, if there was one word I would use to describe all the people in this film (including the government) would be Ignorance...at least before the storm hit.
Now I'm not blaming them, they actually at times turn out to be real heroes of the story, while other times I just wanted to reach through the TV and slap them. As the storm rages on they are forced into their attic, but have not put an ax up there. Most people in the areas that are hit by hurricanes like this keep an ax in the attic so if they are trapped and the waters are rising then they can escape onto the roof. We hear a few 911 calls, one of which the woman on the other end says I cant get out, the 911 operator says, sorry no rescues are being done right now, the desperate woman states, then I'm going to die up here, the operator is silent on the other end.
One of the members of their little group actually stands out in the storm to grab anyone who goes drifting by, and then carries every person from their attic into the one that's across the street since its higher. That's true heroism. They admit that they have at times wasted their lives, and I pity that they feel they have to say that, even if they have that's no reason to be left alone to die by your government.
They view this as a new start, and actually do succeed as the movie goes by, but there was little things that reinforced my anger at them, such as having a gold grill in their mouths, or brand new, and nice clothes when they are making 25 dollars a day, please go to the salvation army and pay a buck for a shirt, two for a pair of pants, and return the FUBU and Ekho clothes.
But like I said they are truly strong people, and its hard to put your self in their position, a good example is the documentarians are talking to some national guard who are sitting around, one says to the camera, civilians don't know how to survive, they trashed this school when they came in here for shelter. Talk about an asshole. Easy for him to say, he has the training and he was sitting safely in Oregon when the storm hit. Even if they did trash the building, lets do the math: No food, No water, No Electricity, No Plumbing, The water is 15 feet high and people are dying everywhere....would you care about keeping an abandoned school clean. Here, let me just sweep up the mess I made here when I was just trying not to die of dehydration.
We also see a Naval base that people were sent to when their homes became to underwater to remain in, they were turned away, and at gun point no less. The Navy officials deny that they had guns, I don't buy it, why would the people who came there make that up?
I'm glad they focused on the micro by following these two people, but I also wanted to see more about the big picture, the blame that went around, why something like this could happen. Ive seen a few docs. already about the effects on the individual with Katrina, I haven't seen an all encompassing one yet.
By the end we see how they are really rebuilding their lives from the dust up, and I have to admire that, they even have jobs that command my respect, they were drug dealers before the storm, now he works in construction. Everyone deserves a second chance, I just wish it didn't have to come in the form of a storm. 7/10 stars.
Directors: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin
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