Trouble the Water

Not often I write here about documentaries but this 2009 Academy Awards nominee, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance, winner of the Best Documentary at the 2008 Gotham Awards and more really deserving honors is one documentary that has to be seen by everyone allover the world, as not only tells an amazing tale of a family survival, but also because is a film that you cannot take your eyes from what’s happening in the screen thanks to brilliant storytelling, incredible real footage and great editing that builds tension, allows you to relax only to go back to tension, especially in the first half of the doc.

The documentary tells about Kimberly Rivers Roberts and her husband, both survivors and heroes of the New Orleans tragedy Katrina Hurricane. Just about a week before the hurricane Rivers bought a camcorder and with it she recorded the ordeal they and many of their neighbors had to endure, as they simply had no way, nowhere and/or no money to leave. They are black, they are poor and they are surviving in the poorest area of New Orleans. Honestly Rivers footage is impact full, but I do believe that editing is also excellent as her homemade footage is entwined with professional footage by the directors of the doc, Carl Deal and Tia Lessin, to produce an amazing and spellbinder recount that you simply cannot miss watching.

But the story continues as Deal and Lessin follow the Roberts for two years more and their story is unbelievably good not only because of what they –and many more- endured in the weeks, months, years after the disaster, but also because their own story and their ability to turn around their own lives.

I know that what you will be able to see in this documentary has controversial human, social, political and economical implications and because of all these, is also a very powerful film; but please do not let this comment scare you, as this is also an extraordinary document about an awful disaster, survival and the strong desire to turn around your lives with your own efforts.

I strongly recommend this great film as a must be seen excellent documentary and story about a disaster that its consequences on human lives are still in an impasse for many, especially those that lived in poverty and well, lost even their poverty status. All happening in the richest country in the world and not in one of the many so-called Third World countries.

Big Enjoy!!!