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Marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Spike Lee will return to New Orleans to produce and direct a follow-up to the Emmy-winning documentary 'When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.'
Sheila Nevins, president of HBO Documentary Films, announced today that HBO will team up with Lee and his production company, 40 Acres and a Mule, in producing the film. Shooting begins tomorrow and will air on HBO this summer.
Hailed as "masterly" by the Washington Post and "devastating" by Newsweek, 'When the Levees Broke' debuted on HBO in 2006. Lee's epic portrait of New Orleans in the wake of Katrina's devastation recounted the heartbreaking stories of those who lived to tell about the disaster and focused on the triumphant spirit of New Orleans as the city rose from the depths of despair with the help of its rich cultural legacy.
The documentary received three Emmys, including exceptional merit in nonfiction filmmaking and outstanding directing for nonfiction programming.
The new documentary will revisit some of the people who appeared in the original 'Levees' to find out what has happened since they last appeared on camera . The documentary will look at the progress and failures in education, housing and population relocation, as well as spotlight New Orleans' indomitable spirit. Going beyond the boundaries of the city, the film will also visit the devastated Gulf Coast area.
Comments: (4)
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By: Isla on 1/15/2010 2:12PM
Apropos the recent disaster in Haiti, "When the Levees Broke" reminds us all of how fragile our lives are, despite social class, race or nationality. Sometime in our lives, we all shall have experienced a distaster. But are we prepared?
I strongly recommend that people watch "When the Levees Broke", both parts. It is sharp documentary that should have won an Oscar, and was not even recognized. It was an unfiltered report on our slip-shod governent on all levels, a call-out to everyone about community responsibility, and it begs the question of what to do in the event of the next big disaster.
I can't wait to see Spike's encore to this blistering indictment on America's mistreatment of its disenfranchised.
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By: Mike on 1/16/2010 8:18PM
Always liked you Spike as a person. Liked some of your movies like Bamboozled. Just make them more 'real', this is the 21st century and you're not afraid. Wish you all the success in the future.
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By: LOvelycute on 1/17/2010 9:20PM
It seems he has not updated his blog for long at the famous celebrity and wealthy club 'Se ek Ri ch --C om' . His fans are waiting for his new pics and blogs there.
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By: Kathleen Johnson on 1/19/2010 7:43AM
I understand the focus on New Orleans for the original piece. It would be of no end of assistance if the "rest of the story" was told and expanded to include Missisisppi which, in actual fact, took the full front of ground zero of hurricane Katrina and where the bulk of the damaged homes and displaced citizens are as a result of Katrina.
Yes, New Orleans flooded due to poorly designed levy system. Mississippi lower three counties were flattened for the most part, and the rest of the State was severely impacted by wind damage which, today, has not even been addressed as unlike Louisianna - those with wind damage in Missisisppi did not receive any grants. We are talking thoushands, upon thousands of homes that were destroyed or unlivable. Or now unlivable as the roofs were never repaired.
Less than 20% of the CDBG funding for Mississippi was spent on the poor.
Kathleen Johnson
Katrina Relief
Waveland/Poplarville.
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