Trouble the Water (USA)

Documentary centering around a small group of people living in the 9th ward of New Orleans starting the days before Katrina and through their attempts to rebuild lives afterwards. The first two weeks of the film is mostly from the personal recordings of a survivor. The remainder is a mix of personally shot video and that of the filmmakers. They had the fortune of hooking up with this amazing woman who serves as an on the ground narrator (and occasional musical accompaniment) throughout the film. There's some additional information provided in text overlayed on the screen. This was really great stuff and it's easy to see why it was honored at this year's Sundance festival.

I went in not expecting much. I'd seen the Katrina coverage of course, read about the horrible lack of planning and the impact on the city. But having that high level media view is very different from the point of view this film describes. Much as taking the aftermath of war in Iraq and telling the story through a group of guys in a metal band sharpens your focus this film brings you to a closer view than you've likely seen before. It even has a generally positive ending. Well worth trying to find.