I’ve been anxious to hear more about HBO’s upcoming documentary on Hurricane Katrina and the botched rescue effort in New Orleans. Even though the media attention has long since tapered off, I still want the dirt on what really went down, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. At one point there were rumours that Michael Moore was also sending a camera crew down there to poke around, but I’ll gladly take a Spike Lee joint instead. Lee’s film is called When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, and as the title implies there will be four major parts to the story: Katrina’s approach, the failed emergency response, the people and culture of New Orleans, followed by the long road to recovery and rebuilding.

Sheila Nevins, president of HBO’s Documentary and Family Programming, describes the film as “operatic”. At four hours long, it damn well better be! I just hope Lee hasn’t pulled any blows (although I don’t see why he would). There is reportedly a balance in testimony between those who support conspiracy theories, and those who feel the levees were simply poorly constructed. The movie will air in two parts on August 21st and 22nd, and then replay in its entirety on August 29th (the anniversary of Katrina). Before that however, there will be a special free screening at the New Orleans Arena on August 16th (tickets are available now through Ticketmaster).

Source: Cinematical