When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (Acts 1 & 2) is an intimate and thought-provoking documentary film by critically acclaimed director Spike Lee. The series comprises of two acts and aims to delve deep into the aftermath of one of America's most notorious and catastrophic disasters – Hurricane Katrina. By presenting a heart-wrenching exposé of the human lives affected, the film challenges and exposes the systematic failures that led to the devastation and ineffectiveness of relief operations.

The film starts by setting up the stage, taking us back to the summer of 2005 in the city of New Orleans. An underlying tension begins to build as weather forecasts predict the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. Even before the storm hits, the film provides a glimpse into the lives of the citizens of New Orleans with their vibrant culture, rich history, and the spirit of resilience that runs like a vital thread throughout the feature.

After the storm arrives in Act I and the levees collapse, the film methodically unravels the ensuing chaos. Act I artfully explores the initial impact of the storm, the levee failures, the flooding of New Orleans, and the shocking lack of readiness of the city’s disaster management systems. It takes the audience on a journey through the perception of the hurricane from minor nuisance to deadly threat, as the waters start to rise, and the levees fail to protect the city.

Then, the film transitions into Act II, offering a harrowing insight into the struggle for survival faced by the inhabitants of New Orleans in the days following the disaster. It documents the tales of trauma, fear, and survival of the affected individuals. Lee magnifies the images of stranded survivors on rooftops, in flooded houses, and neglected in the Superdome and Convention Center – all desperately hoping for aid that seemed grossly inadequate and delayed.

Throughout Acts 1 and 2, the narrative is punctuated with eyewitness testimonies, interviews from survivors, first responders, politicians, journalists, and engineers, which reinforce the reality of the calamitous event. These poignant narratives reveal the anger, frustration, and despair felt by many residents towards the slow and seemingly indifferent response by local and federal government agencies.

One remarkable feature of When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (Acts 1 & 2) is that Spike Lee embraces many perspectives. The film investigates the disaster from a myriad of angles - the racial, the political, the geographical, and, most importantly, the personal. It doesn't shy away from discussing social issues such as classism and racism, the socioeconomic divide, land ownership issues, and urban community struggles, which surfaced as the flooding brought most parts of the city to a standstill.

While the movie is indeed about a disaster and its aftermath, it is also an examination of the resilience and tenacity of a community in the face of this disaster. It throws light on the spirit of New Orleanian culture and life and emphasizes the sense of identify and belonging that keep the community from breaking apart during such a crisis.

The cinematography is impressive, and the use of archival footage and photographs, satellite images, news clips lends a sense of immediacy and authenticity to the narrative. The powerful jazz funeral music in the film, composed by Terence Blanchard, underscores the gravity of the situation and emotionally anchors the viewing experience.

Though the movie is steeped in despair and hardship, it also contains triumphs of the human spirit. A profound commentary on disaster response in the United States, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (Acts 1 & 2) is built on stories of loss and survival, of anger and hope. It criticizes and exposes the systemic failures, reminding us of the perilous balance between humans and their environment. It is a pivotal work of documentary cinema that demands attention to change and resilience.