Trouble the Water

The camcorder footage in the first half of the film is frightening, but attempts to rebuild homes, neighborhoods, lives, the very belief in the possibility of something better are deeply moving. And when the citizens repeatedly come up against a system that greets them, at best, with cruel indifference, it is quietly devastating. A sterling documentary that gets deeper than the aghast indignation that is the natural starting point when considering the governmental response to Katrina.

Just too damn rough around the edges... Hard to recommend this one, even though I'd like to...

A frightening look at a terrible natural disaster, followed by frightening look at the terrible man made disaster that followed.

Interesting viewpoint, and a different attitude on Katrina... at least when Kim was filming. When it's not filmed with a handycam there's plenty of drama milked out of scenes that don't need it or have it. Probably the only time I'll end up watching a movie and have the building I'm watching it in ridiculed (Canal Place)

Markedly little is shown or said here that we all don't already know. On top of that, most of the really good documentaries feature fascinating people; I would never want to know a couple as dull and as ignorant as Kimberly "Black Kold Madina" Rivers Roberts and her husband. If I was stuck in an attic with them and with the floodwaters high enough to partly cover the stop signs, I'd jump out the window after about two hours, tops. Betcha this movie's success is all due to its liberal piety

When bad things happen to good people. The first part is great, especially the handheld footage of the disaster. Loses steam somewhere around the middle, but still worth watching.

Documentary on hurricane Katrina from the different viewpoint then you would hear on the news. To tell the truth, I found out more about life in the hood then about the hurricane.

"No unnecessary authorial pushing and prodding is required on behalf of Kim and Scott's amazing story." - Nick Schager

The film is important not so much for its dramatic footage (though it has that), but for humanizing the downtrodden victims of Katrina. These are people characterized in the media by their economic status, their criminal activities, or their inability to contribute to society. This film takes us into their world, it shows us human beings part of a community, people who struggle to do the right thing, and some who rise to the occasion and exhibit heroism that speaks to what's best about people.

The film is at it's best it let's Kim and the camera speak for themselves. She has no agenda except to document her neighborhood during a tragedy. Trouble the Water is a remarkable testament to the human spirit.