When The Levees Broke - A Requiem In Four Acts  (2006)

definitely worth a watch.Enlightening and informative.

The whole thing was too long and too biased however it was powerful, sobering film making. With just talking heads and some media footage Spike Lee builds a picture of the literal hell suffered by residents using eye witness accounts of New Orleans before, during and after hurricane Katrina swept a deadly path over the city. I didn't pay close attention to the incident a the time and knew no details of what occured in the Big Easy over that period so the overall picture that emerged from this documentary was eye opening and many details were quite distressing. First hand stories of family and friends dying, and the sight of dead and bloated bodies left for days in the streets was emotional. A criticism I have is that it was too heavily edited and biased. I don't mind some biase in documentaries as there is always a point the film maker is trying to get across but this seemed too much. After dignified and eloquent performances from such as Harry Belafonte, Rev Al Sharpton and Mayor Ray Nalgan and 'ordinary' citizens the tone would turn sour especially with one particularly militant female. I must admit I didnt finish disc 2 but there was no chance of a rebuttal from government sources or a chance to explain why some decisions were made ( or indeed, not made). The film did clear up some wild alegations that were made about crime in the Dome but that again was cloaked in a swipe at an authority figure, the chief of police defacto representative of the President. However, overall I would recommend this for everyone to watch as a moving portrayal of struggling in the face of over whelming tragedy and also as a lesson in how not to do it. It, in this case, being a national reaction to disaster.

Certainly one of the best documentaries I have ever seen, and I've seen many. Profoundly moving. Actually people may be suprised at how unpolitical this film is, the message seems to be a plea for governments at the city, state and federal level to transcend petty politics and act like human beings. Certainly I couldn't help feeling that if the various governing bodies who were meant to be helping the people of New Orleans, post Katrina, had even a scintilla of the decency and humanity of the victims then there might have been a much happier ending and far fewer deaths.

I caught this on Channel 4 and it was heartbreaking but mesmerising. We all saw the news of this natural disaster and the shocking treatment of the people living in the areas affected but then suddenly it was all but forgotten. This was good viewing as you got to see what really happened and you were able to see how the people were coping, or not in some cases, in the aftermath. It is very long but I would recommend.

This is one of the most moving, important , political documentaries I have ever watched. Yes it is biased, but after watching this, see if you can see any justification for the delay by the US government in not sending help sooner. Compare what happened in this film with the rapid response to the recent fires in California, which threatened the rich white houses. I hope Spike Lee makes a follow-up doc to show how and if New Orleans recovers.

this was my first rental from i and i loved this film. while it makes you angry and upset it is uplifting and the people featured remarkable and defiant in the light of the blatant racial mismanagement of katraina by of G W bush administaration. a must see to anyone with a conscience and one of Spike lee greatest works up there with do the right thing and malcom x.

I expected to see a usual Spike Lee 'the system is out to get the _____ (fill in the blank as you see fit) man' kind of film when in fact I saw a balanced and fair view of the events that unfolded following Hurricane Katrina. Its easy to sit and criticise governments or organisations, but as Lee showed in this movie, it would appear founded in the case of the atrocious and horrendous response levels the US government showed its own people after one of the worst, if not worst, natural disaster in US history. Looks to me as if Spike Lee has grown up and matured and rather than ranting and raving, he's now letting facts and reality tell the story!

The film has some fascinating first hand accounts and footage, but why is it so long?

This is heavy going in some places but well worth it. This documentary takes you right through the destruction of New Orleans by hurricane Katrina, and interviews many of those involved - the residents, their relatives, rescuers, police and government. The most disturbing part of all is how the poorer residents were treated, and how long it took for assistance to reach them. I know this isn't for everyone, but it is well worth a look.

this docu shows what a real nateral disaster is.not like we have in england when a few floods bring down half the country.it also reminds you how the riches country in the world also harbours such a poor under class.when u c soom off the footage its like watching footage of africa.

this film is excellently produced, although harrowing and honest it should not be missed as this could happen elsewhere.

OK - I'm not one for conspiracy theory, but we had three disc ones before we got one that worked, disc two worked first time and disc three failed... if the CIA have a DVD replication plant, then it's based in Louisiana and waterproof. If there was ever proof needed that America fails it's black population here it is.

a very powerful drama

A very moving & powerful portrayal of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans & its people. It is difficult to watch without being angry about the way New Orleans was let down by the federal authorirties. What really stands out, however, is the moving portrayal of the citizens of this great city, their strength of character & their deep love for New Orleans itself.

This series of films is well worth seeing, especially if you live near a coastal area, anywhere in the world, more particularly if you are resident in an area which has little modern commercial value. There are very uncomfortable parallels with the battle going on in Norfolk to protect the coastline from the dredging which ironically takes aggregate to the Netherlands which, in the last film is shown to have far superior protective barriers than either New Orleans or Norfolk. In fact the Netherlands barrier is much akin to the Thames Barrier which of course protects a highly financially viable modern commercial area of the country. The attitudes of the US Government under George Bush and the UK Governments are similar too. These films will leave you feeling uncomfoirtable but may make you act - and ask your MP's some very uncomfortable questions.

This is a moving and shocking insight into how and why Hurricane Katrina did so much damage to New Orleans. In essence it wasn't actually the hurricane itself but the poor construction of the levees and lack of government action that caused the most destruction. Some of the images and stories told are truly shocking and you cannot believe the world's wealthiest country could allow this to happen; in fact some of the scenes are those you would associate with the Third World. This is quite heavy going to watch however it's well worth it. NB: We are awaiting the disc for Parts III & IV so can only give an appraisal of what we have seen so far.

Spike Lee doing what he does best - docu-dramas based on black issues.. Very gritty.. Very sad too.. Really good piece

I don't care who you are or what your normal preference is. Watch this anyway you want: horror/disaster film/thriller/drama or campaigning/informative/poetic documentary film. Its all there. Not conclusive or definitive but still convincing and compelling. Long but split into 45 mins chunks so its manageable. Watch it and be shocked/awed and angry.

A powerful, moving, motivating requiem.

Film can serve so many roles. I first saw When The Levees Broke when it was shown on channel four. I is a searing mesmeric film that reminds us about humanity, suffering and the way that it is possible for some of us at times to forget each others humanity. It is both an uplifting and devastating film. I have recently watched it for a second time this time in the aftermath of another disaster the earthquake in Haiti. This film has consequences far beyond the hurricane of 2005. It raises questions about our ability to support each other in times of real need and reminds us of some of the best and worst aspects of our nature.

Really couldn't maintain attention on this. Not sure if it was the film or me. Either way it didn't work for me.