Trouble the Water
Seen it?2008 | 93 min | Documentary
Saturday Specialearly ratingWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (83 on Metacritic), despite almost no lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
"Trouble the Water" takes you inside Hurricane Katrina in a way never before seen on screen. The film opens the day before the storm makes landfall--just blocks away from the French Quarter but far from the New Orleans that most tourists knew. Kimberly Rivers Roberts, an aspiring rap artist, is turning her new video camera on herself and her Ninth Ward neighbors trapped in the city. Weaving an insider's view of Katrina with a mix of verité and in-your-face filmmaking, it is a redemptive tale of self-described street hustlers who become heroes--two unforgettable people who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
83 on Metacritic
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 6K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Carl Deal, Tia Lessin
- Scott RogersSelf
- George W. BushSelf (archive footage)
- Michael BrownSelf (archive footage)
- Julie ChenSelf - Reporter (archive footage)
- Ray NaginSelf (archive footage)
- Brian NoblesSelf
- Wink RiversSelf
- Scott RobertsSelf
- Larry SimsSelf - Resident
- Shepard SmithSelf (voice) (archive sound)