Worth A View: Spike Lee's Katrina Film

American Prospect: Documentary Is A Poignant Examination Of What Went Wrong

(The American Prospect)  This column was written by Alex P. Kellogg

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Images are what make films, and no footage shot in the past year could have provided more powerful imagery than that of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed lives from Florida to Louisiana to Mississippi.

Spike Lee's epic and complicated documentary, "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts," poignantly weaves reams of astonishing footage into a complex, heartfelt examination of the fate of both a city and the nation that seemed to stand by as it was swallowed by the sea.

That it has taken the one-year anniversary of Katrina to bring the nation's worst natural disaster — one that went largely unabated by governmental relief — back into our collective consciousness says a lot. Lee doesn't beat this message into our heads, something he has been criticized for in the past. Instead, the director allows the people who lived through the disaster to tell their stories. The film follows dozens of them through the course of the past year as they recall what they endured — and survived — in their own words.

The four-hour documentary will air in its entirety at 8 p.m. Aug. 29, Katrina's actual anniversary.

Among those featured is New Orleans native Herbert Freeman Jr., whose mother died next to him as they sat stranded for days at the Superdome. He was told to leave her in the dome with a pile of other deceased people and a hand-scribbled note. Several days later, he says, when trying to go to say goodbye to her before being evacuated, a National Guardsman pointed a machine gun in his face and told him he had to get on a bus immediately.

Another interviewee, Paris Ervin, a college student from the city, says he was told by FEMA representatives that his grandmother, who he'd lost track of during the course of the disaster, was not found in her home. He returned there in November to find her body decomposing under the refrigerator in the kitchen. Due to bureaucratic hold-ups, he wasn't given her remains until two months later.

The haunting music of trumpeter Terence Blanchard, Lee's longtime score composer and a New Orleans native (he's interviewed in the film), along with countless still photos interspersed throughout the picture add texture and even further weight to these stories.

The official perspective comes from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Governor Kathleen Blanco, and an array of historians and engineers, as well as city, state and government officials — including those who built the known-to-be inadequate levee walls that failed to protect the city.

Celebrities with their own offbeat Katrina tales such as Kanye West and Sean Penn are also included, sparingly. In interviews and other footage gathered from media outlets, President Bush, Condoleezza Rice, former FEMA head Mike Brown and others are quoted extensively with scathing commentary from Lee's subjects sprinkled in.

Their feelings of disgust, rage and incredulity serve as a counter-narrative to some of the already self-condemning words and deeds of these officials.

Mike Brown tells CNN's Soledad O'Brien four days after the hurricane struck that he was unaware of the lack of food and water and basic health care at the Superdome.

Mr. Bush shows up in New Orleans for a press conference on Sept. 12 — 15 days after Katrina laid waste to the city. The president's mother, visiting the Astrodome in Houston, where tens of thousands of New Orleans residents were housed temporarily, happily declares that "so many of the people in the areas here were underprivileged anyway, so this is working out quite well for them."

Still, even given the film's critique of the Bush administration, blame can be placed at everyone's feet. Though Lee's film doesn't address this, the nation's Democratic leadership stood on the sidelines and said little other than inconsequential niceties.

What's more, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, appeared hardly up to the task throughout the ordeal. Where were Al Gore, John Kerry, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton when it was clearly time to criticize the Bush administration's response?

By the official count, more than 1,300 people lost their lives. More than 500,000 people were displaced. An entire city was nearly wiped off the face of the earth. Yet Lee seems to have heard more outrage from the Rev. Al Sharpton and Harry Belafonte than I've ever heard from prominent Democrats. And we wonder why race is invoked when the birthplace of jazz and the hometown of Mardi Gras felt abandoned by the nation.

In some heart-wrenching moments, Lee shows footage of people of various backgrounds screaming and shouting at news cameras: a young man holds up a baby and cries, "Where is the mayor? Where is FEMA?"

As a middle-aged woman in the convention center speaks, her tone turns from matter of fact to tearful as she explains that her mother is diabetic and needs insulin. "She's dying right now. Help me get her out of here," she finally cries.

Indeed, where the hell was the government? But, for God's sake, where were the Democrats? At one point in Lee's film, we hear a British reporter, in that educated accent Americans associate with unshakeable reason, describe "the black poor" as "America's forgotten" and "the real victims." If we can't take an honest look at ourselves, Lee's film reminds us that, perhaps, others can.

Lee was for years a lightning rod as much for his combative persona as for his films' controversial themes. When he released one of his early movies, the musical "School Daze," to some tepid reviews, he shot back that many of his critics couldn't even dance. His anger seemed to stem partly from some off-the-wall critiques.

As late as 2004, one notable film critic described "Do The Right Thing," a complex, electrifying film, "as the best film I know about African Americans." That's kind of like calling Annie Hall the greatest Jewish love story ever told.

Lee has said a lot in his career — sometimes too much, too often. But the gap between his contribution to American culture and the critical response to his work has been too wide for too long. With "Levees," he has taken a step back from the spotlight and crafted a work of art that we all need to see.

[paulag5]

this is awesome even though we are close to the 1 year katrina hit we think its over till you see the stories the tears you feel it all over again as if today is aug 29, 2005 you try to put pain behind you but hurricane katrina hurt just as bad far worst than 9/11 the suffering the thought of some one being lost i have 3 kids and i live in alabama mobile and the thought of not seeing them touching them smelling them hurts now im full and its all coming out i cant watch the docoment but i have to it is a part of me usa is one big family under God love you america

[modee45]

More power to you Spike...We needed this to be put back into the Nations Mind. This is a disaster that will have generational effects on ALL of the people from New Orleans...Long Live The BIG EASY...

[chardin53]

The disaster brought disgust to my gut. I believe in what this country is founded upon and to see how the government represented us in this disaster is shameful. Phrases like "out of touch with reality", "heart wrenching", "inhumane", and "criminal" come to mind. The definition of "criminal" is defined as "Personal injury" associated with some action or behavior. Our government's actions caused "peronal injury". Is there any better definition of "tyranny" in the dictionary.

[tiequenccia]

I want to thank Spike Lee for showing people around the world the truth behind the destruction of this storm! It has changed many lives forever, New Orleans natives present at the time and those of us who are far way.People only see the crime or they want to give us a bad name as if we are unworthy. We are all children of God and we must learn to love one another as sisters and brothers regardless of color or tax bracket.. Tiequenccia
New Orleans native and resident of South Carolina

I commend Spike Lee for having the guts to show the leaders of the U.S. Government as the dumb, blind fools that they are. President Bush should be impeached for the lack of leadership he showed before, during & after Hurricane Katrina. Hiding behind his stupidity, racism & his %u201CWho cares about poor people in New Orleans%u201D attitude, Bush showed the rest of the world that he will go all over the world to fight for oil but he will not help the people who HE works for in their time of need. Bush failed in so many ways that I believe Americans, if they have not been brainwashed by this %u201CHunt for Oil%u201D scam, should raise their voices in out right outrage and shame over his actions. FEMA, local & state government officials should be ashamed of themselves for their lack of action throughout this ordeal. Calling the victims of Hurricane Katrina %u201CRefugees%u201D is a slap in the face of all Americans. How can you call American citizens %u201CRefugees%u201D?

Americans should NEVER forget what happened in New Orleans, the government would love to keep the American people distracted by the so called %u201CWar on terrorism%u201D in Iraq. I hope we as a people free to express our feelings can somehow express them in a way, non-violent towards the government to let them know that WE will never forget Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of %u201CThe Failure of Our Government%u201D.

God Bless America & Long Live "The Big Easy"

[katyrichard]

Thank you, Spike Lee, for this film. It needs to be seen by every US citizen including every representative, legislator, senator, congressman, supreme court justice and of course the president, his entire cabinet and staff. This is real, this is still happening to our fellow brothers and sisters - citizens of the United States of America. How can we stand by when these people are being ignored and forgotten on purpose!!! We must stand up and let our government know that we won't tolerate the injustice that is being perpetrated against these good people. We must lend a hand to our brothers and sisters - we must not let New Orleans go on without it's native people!!

[iamnxtc]

I too, thank Spike Lee for not letting us forget our friends. We moved the same weekend as Katrina last year and found a family from Slidell in our hotel, we paid for their lodging and felt pretty good that we had contributed along with making donations to the Mississippi fund raising efforts. But, yah, know, I have my own bed to sleep in tonight, and perhaps others don't. I will go to my staff tomorrow to see how we can help ACORN and adopt a family...if our government won't help surely we can....if nothing else,,,remember,,, at the polls,,,DO WHAT IS RIGHT!!!

[collegegrad3]

I just want to say that Spike Lee's documentary on Hurricane Katrina was as moving as it was powerful. It's so obvious that the U.S. governments' slow response was done purposely. They knew years ago that the levees were not ready for a storm such as Katrina. It's tragic that racism , greed, and lame politicians have come together to destroy these peoples'lives. The conspiracy is to get all of the African Americans away from the Port so that industries can build, because everyone knows that New Orleans brings in oil, sugar, and many other resources. That's where the greed part comes in. Every human being in existence needs to watch this film. I also want to tell every New Orleans citizen who own a home to fight hard to keep your land. This may be a possible issue in the future. Don't think the government won't try and pass a bill to keep it. It's time for our young African Americans such as myself to uplift each other, provide better education to the little ones, and decrease crime and poverty. Thanks again Mr. Lee for opening the eyes of all Americans young, old, black, white, poor, or rich.

[mjv2944]

Well worth watching. Shows the American people just how screwed up this country has become. Bush and his cronies don't have a clue, in fact they would have to go to WalMart and buy one. If it don't pertain to big oil or big business, it just don't count. What has happened in the Gulf coast is criminal and someone should go to jail, starting with the Corps or should that be corpse, as they are definitely brain dead. I don't think New Orleans will ever be the city it once was. That is a real tragidy.

[statsdoc1]

A great documentary all in all. I think the thing that most forget is that government failed at all levels. The first response should have been from the city, the state and then the Feds. Lee spent about 3.5 hours pointing out problems with the President but about 5 minutes pointing out things such as the one gentleman saying (paraphrased) "there was a disaster plan but I'm not sure if the mayor ever read it". I've been right in the middle of Frances, Jeanne and Wilma; the first people we saw were local authorities. We didn't complain; we just did what we could to get by. Most people in the coastal regions sure as heck didn't ignore the evacuation warnings. We sure as heck didn't go to the shelters and defecate on the floors. We didn't loot and we didn't shoot at the cops and one another. While I realize that's a small percentage of the people in New Orleans, the general population needs to accept part of the blame; they could start by getting rid of both the mayor and the governor. It's easy to pass the buck; if you're an elected offical, at any level, you need to stand up and be a leader.

[emancipated1]

Applause...Applause...someone finally realizes the power of the press,other than Fox News,that is. Spike presented a delicate subject before some goverment department pronounces it partially deceased or files it away in a known inefficient storage depot where a water-down treatment occurs and something unrelated to fact is spit back for some commission to conveniently muddle through.
Here we have it, the patent pending successive round for round *** whoopin' of an underdog who deserves it. Believe it or not there are still some people in the audience who are cheering the underdog on. Hopefully our ears are not the only ones left ringing after the initial jeers had let down and subsided. I believe Spike has laid a sound enhanced reality check that may loop until heard and then some. Right On, Spike ! 40 acres and a mule,Baby............By whatever means necessary !

[threedjuly10]

I a born & raised New Orleanian.I was 4 years old when Betsy hit.I remember it well.We were at my Grandparent's home on Marais St & my Mom came back crying because she saw dead bodies in the waters.Even back then I remember grown-ups talking about how the Levee's should have held back the surge.So for our government to say they didn't know is an outright lie!Shame on Bush, Governor Blanco & the Army Corps of Engineers! One thing that does bother me is that everyone thinks that it is only poor, African Americans that were affected by Katrina.I am a middle class white woman with a very large extended family.We all were affected to some degree or another.If you had major or minor damage the emotional devestation has hit us all.Everywhere I go there are people who are depressed, angry or just plain desperate for our lives to get back to normal.It makes me so sad to see houses that have been here for over 100 years get demolished.To me there is nothing like the old shot gun houses with their unique architecture and to see them completely unfixable is the hardest thing for me to imagine.One year later we are no closer to have our problems resolved.My husband is a plumber & he has been working non-stop.He is also a born & raised New Orleanian and the devestation he sees is starting to get to him mentally.The crime is steadily increasing & the schools are deplorable.Thank you Spike Lee for not letting the world forget what happened here. I could not stop crying thru-out the entire 4 hours.

[familymin]

I AM FROM BATON ROUGE, AND I MUST COMPLIMENT HIM ON HIS WORK. THERE ARE ALOT OF PERSONS OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T EVEN CONSIDERED A FAIR CHANCE TO MAKE ANY FORM OF LIFE DECISIONS OVER THEIR LIVES, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE CONFUSION, AND TURMOIL. IT IS SUCH A BLESSING TO HAVE SOMEONE OUT THERE TO GIVE THE CITIZENS A FAIR CHANCE TO SPEAK UP AND OUT FOR THE NATION TO HEAR.

[foobarbaz-2009]

I hate to put the brakes on the "let's blame Bush" party y'all are having but president Bush went to congress and secured federal funding for disaster relief 4 days before the hurricane made landfall. He, like many others, believed the state of Louisiana and the local government of New Orleans had a disaster plan in place. And they did. Unfortunately for the people of New Orleans that plan was only for the mayor, the governor, and congressmen to get out of town. Or, have the national Guard truck you to your mansion so you can get the $90,000.00 cash bribe money you have stashed on your freezer then get out of town (willaim jefferson). Complaining that Bush is corrupt and evil and blaming the federal government for not giving you a big enough handout fast enough is getting tired and worn out. The government doesn't owe you anything. Self reliance doesn't even seem to be in spike's vocabulary. You can see a great example of this sort of thinking here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1iaNaYT4wc

[foobarbaz-2009]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1iaNaYT4wc
"If we can't rely on our own federal government who can we rely on?"
How about relying on yourself for a change?
The billions of federal dollars that have been sent to Louisiana still haven't gotten to the people who are supposed to get them. Why not? Because the same corrupt sleazebags are running the state and local governments.
Yes spike, the evil white people in the federal government conspired to blow up the levy and move all the poor black people somewhere else so they can build big expensive condos in the stinking festering low land swamp that is the New Orleans waterfront. They were just waiting for a big enough hurricane to come along. Or maybe they used that secret machine they have that controls the weather? This is the kind of *** you believe when you have paranoid delusions about anyone that's a different color than you being out to get you. I guess all the rich white people who lost everything missed the secret meeting that month.


Idiot.

[ail_1999]

I invite all of you bloggers to visit New Orleans--everyplace that was seen in that frightening 'film document' as Mr. Lee correctly called his film. Then write your comments--weeks after you stop crying and shaking.

[haloless]

Here's a bit of irony; New Orleans was one of the states that put Bush in office.

If I was the Mayor of New Orleans, I would say "We will help pay for the cost of rebuilding your house, but, you have to help with the labor."

How many do you think would be willing to do that (help)?

[haloless]

Paulag5, how do you meassure pain? How dare you claim that this hurts more than 9/11. You don't think that there aren't parents that lost children that day? The people that died in 9/11 had no warning to evacuate.

[emancipated1]

To foobarbaz:
How do you think it feels to be the target of a goverment-led and focused program which is racially based ? Do you feel that there is no evidence of this type of thing having ever happened in our(US) history ? Mr. Lee's perspective may be more understandable with that knowledge and attaining this protective viewpoint and perspective may be needed before you judge him as over the top.Keepin' it real, I think thats what he is about but things arent' always what we think they are. An artist looks at many concepts and perspectives among which there are many which can defy immediate dismissal as impossible scenarios. Although you may dismiss these many scenarios as inconsequential, the process and exposure to same from the author of this film piece is an offering to the watcher which takes things to a greater level of understanding then what is realizable by the obvious facts.You remember the job of the journalist in Vietnam before presenting news considered unworthy or sensitive for broadcasting, I don't think they would hire Spike for that job with these qualifications.

[foobarbaz-2009]

How on earth can anyone claim the mayor was a competant leader and did good by his constituants? here is the picture of 145 school buses 1.2 miles from the superdome...

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/814/nawlnsbusessuperdomeyw4.jpg

the average schoolbus capacity is 60 to 66 people.

60 * 145 = 8700

Instead of fleeing the city and hoping the feds will do it all how about being a leader? Stop blaming Bush. The facts are against you. Stop blaming the government for not helping you. Mississippi was hit harder than New Orleans and they aren't complaining or begging for more money. Stop spreading goofy conspiracy theories about the evil white man plotting to destroy your home and deal with the reality of the situation. The state and local governments knew the levee conditions as well as anyone. Better even. No action from the people who were continually re-elected and put in the position of trust and authority to get the job done and didn't. spike lee is nothing more than an instiagitng muck raker. I wonder how many homes could have been rebuilt for the cost of this alleged "documentary"?

[gv591]

"Where were Al Gore, John Kerry, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton when it was clearly time to criticize the Bush administration's response?"
Well, Al Gore was busy air lifting Katrina evacuees. He did make a statement critical of the administration response at a speech in San Francisco on 9/9.
John Kerry was in Iraq, although he made many statements, e-mailed his supporters to donate to relief funds, flew supplies to the Gulf, proposed the Small Business Hurricane Relief and Reconstruction Act, and repeatedly criticized the administration's response (Brown University speech on 9/19 is a good example). Where was the media coverage of this?
Who did Republican Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi thank by name on the floor of the Senate for their assistance? John and Teresa Kerry. The audio is on Lott's website.
Edwards and Clinton made appeals for assistance for the gulf and criticisms of the administration's response. I won't post them, but Google works.
Where were the Dems? How about this - where was the media coverage of what the Democrats were doing and saying?
And where were Bush, Chertov, Brownie, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Rove, McCain and the rest of the so called 'compassionate conservatives'?
Shoe shopping, baseball game, birthday party, golf, guitar photo op ...
http://www.thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline
That's not to say there weren't good Republicans working to help Katrina victims, but to criticize the Democratic response is either dishonest or uninformed.

[alex_kellogg]

I should clarify to GV591 and other readers that the publication this article was originally written for -- The American Prospect -- is a pro-Democrat magazine published out of the nation's capital. So my strongly worded criticisms of the Democratic Party was for a specific audience and are a bit out of context when republished at a party-neutral site like cbsnews.com. That said, I think any observer, regardless of their party affiliation, can agree that the Democrats have failed to seize numerous opportunities to offer appropriate, timely and forceful criticism of the Bush administration and the Republican Party. There is evidence of that almost everywhere. The party has not won a presidential election in 10 years and has not controlled either the senate or the house since 1994. Whether some of those things will soon change remains to be seen.

[artpatter]

Spike Lee has arrived as the true voice of American History. I have watched his career as he evolved into societies voice for the underpriveleged and the dispossessed.
What happened, and the aftermath as well,
on the Gulf Coast was the nadir of the Bush administration. Everyone can place the blame on all levels of our Government but the buck stops at the President.
We need respected historians to critically point out the terrible mistakes of ommission, as well as commission, so that these uncaring political hacks must face the criricism and answer it.
Spike Lee is probably the clearest voice out there, with the best forum, to associate Bush with Iraq, and now Katrina. Bush's legacy has added indecision to it's long list of relative words lowlighting his presidency.
Our Country has never seen more perilous times
brought about by one man who stole an election.

[impartiality]

It's a most disheartening and embarrassing day when the lives of not just American citizens, but thousands of HUMAN BEINGS were destroyed literally and theoretically by a natural disaster and the only thoughts we entertain are those with regard to how the Democrats/Republicans/Government handled this tragedy or lack thereof. Whether or not the Government was to blame, it does not alter the fact that someone's father, uncle, mother, best friend since elementary school, child, niece, or nephew died or had his or her life destroyed/severely disrupted as a result of this phenomenon. For those of you who have suffered a major setback in life whose details were misconstrued or only partially explained you may find comfort in dealing with the setback or experience relief and closure if only "everyone knew the truth." Regardless of the Film's motives, the one thing that it did accomplish was opening the world's eyes to the plain truth. It's a documentary. The images are real. It's not fiction. This is someone's father, uncle, mother, best friend since elementary school, child, niece, or nephew. Just because it's not YOUR's does not give you the right to belittle someone else's most tragic experience on account of voicing a political opinion...emphasis on "opinion." Congratulations Spike. You're a philanthropist in my book. As for all others in opposition...may your role as an American and further, a human being, eclipse your inconsiderate opinions.