It was clear right from the outset of our viewing of Spike Lee’s When the Levees Broke that this was a documentary designed to show the fight for life and purpose of those New Orleans residents affected by 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. To show this immense struggle, Lee juxtaposed devastating stories of those who didn’t make it with stories of celebrations of life.
Haunting images floated through the documentary – a broken doll half-buried by a mound of dirt, an abandoned shoe in a foot of water – as well as heartbreaking stories. Act III ended with the funeral of a five-year-old girl who drowned in the storm, given with commentary from the girl’s mother. She knows that this is a tragedy that will never leave her, but says she looks to God for strength.
This faith is a common theme in the film. Some looked to the heavens, some to one another. The most universal source of strength came from family; unfortunately, we heard stories of families that had been broken apart not only by death, but by displacement from the hurricane. Various residents said the only way to truly rebuild New Orleans is to welcome back its residents; this is an action that even today is not complete.
Although we were not able to hear the director’s commentary, Spike Lee’s focus on the backlash against FEMA and President Bush shows his disdain for governmental action following Hurricane Katrina. Many interviewees blamed the government for the heightened crime and racial tension following the storm, and thought that various visits by officials were only for media attention.
However, among the anxiety and stress was a release in the form of music. Mardi Gras was still celebrated six months after Katrina, despite criticism for having such an iconic celebration in a still-destroyed city. Attendees knew that the celebration, and New Orleans itself, can never be the same, but the only way to rebuild is to come together.