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When The Leeves Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts - Preview

Spike Lee on the set of Inside Man

Preview by Jack Foley

NEVER one to shy away from the controversial, Spike Lee has made a four-hour documentary entitled When The Leeves Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts that looks at the American response to Hurricane Katrina.

The hurricane formed in late August 2005 and devastated much of the north central Gulf Coast of the US, flooding much of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.

It was the sixth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the third strongest landfalling US hurricane in history, killing at least 1,836 people and rendering thousands more homeless.

At the time, many Americans united to try and raise emergency funds and relief for its residents, while celebrities banded together to put on fundraising events such as concerts and to man phone relief hotlines. But the government response has continued to anger many people, many of whom believed it was not quick enough to act or continue supporting the recovery effort, especially in light of its continued effort in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among them is Spike Lee, who has said he is “scared” for the safety of Americans after watching the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) efforts to help the victims of Katrina.

He is quoted as saying: “Volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods. It’s not just New Orleans. We should be scared because of FEMA – you saw what they did. Pray to God you don’t have to depend on them. This stuff affects all Americans.”

He has subsequently directed a four-hour documentary on the subject that asks questions while highlighting the spirit of the people of New Orleans who recovered from the devastation to get the city up and running again.

Although the documentary is predominantly for American TV, it is being shown at the forthcoming Venice Film Festival, where it promises to rate among the more thought-provoking and straight talking entries.

Explains Lee: “What I was really amazed by after Katrina was the spirit of the people of New Orleans. Another thing I found amazing was the humour. They’re profane. We wanted to record the raw feelings of these people.

“That’s what makes New Orleans the most unique city in America, and that’s tough for me to say, being from New York.”

Spike Lee talks Save Us Joe Louis

Inside Man reviewed

  1. The people of New Orleans will not go back to New orleans, because there is nothing there for them they are waiting for the goverment to rebuild - why can’t they rebuild for themselves. The people of Bay St. Lewis lost just as much as the people in new orleans but they are back and they are rebuilding on there own.


    — Victoria Lawshe    Aug 6    #

  2. That is easy to say, but it is hard to go back and rebuild when you do not have the resources or the support that you need. You have to remember some places still do not have electricity. I am pretty sure that the people in the Bay have gotten some type of assistance from somewhere. Explain why people in New Orleans can not even get an insurance check to try and rebulit their houses. I mean where do you think this money will come from….......?


    — McClinton    Aug 23    #