Straight from the 9th Ward, this is the story of Kimberly Rivers Roberts, a 24-year-old New Orleans native, shooting footage on her hi-8 video camera as Hurricane Katrina approaches: “It seems like I’m the only stupid nigga that’s stayin’, but I’m not leaving ‘cause I can’t afford it,” she says. As the water levels rise outside, those left behind move up into the attics, and it falls to extraordinary citizens like Larry to do the work of the National Guard, wading through the floodwaters saving one life at a time. Even after Spike Lee’s Katrina documentary When the Levees Broke, there’s space for Roberts’ first-person narration, live from the eye of the storm, her gift for language and rhythmic delivery hinting at her talent as an aspiring emcee.
As her brother later puts it, “This shouldn’t be happening here.” But it did. The world’s most powerful government left its poorest and neediest citizens to die, whilst the President and FEMA officials appeared on television making asinine claims that they were doing everything in their powers to help. If it doesn’t make you angry (which it should), you’ll marvel at the heart and spirit of the woman, which comes across in stark contrast to the public officials hamstrung by bureaucracy, and the bland news anchors in comfortable television studios speculating about the price of gas. Features an original musical score by Neil Davidge and Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack.
Leave a Comment