The narrative is built one happy cliche at a time until the story of Katrina ceases to be about appalling environmental neglect, or the colossal failure of the federal government to manage a disaster.
Hurricane on the Bayou (2006)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:20
Fresh:17
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.1/10
Genre: Education/General Interest
US Box Office: $0
Synopsis: A powerfully moving large format film unlike any other, Hurricane on the Bayou carries audiences behind today’s news headlines on a journey deep into the soul-stirring heart of Louisiana – before,... A powerfully moving large format film unlike any other, Hurricane on the Bayou carries audiences behind today’s news headlines on a journey deep into the soul-stirring heart of Louisiana – before, during and after the unprecedented devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Unfolding against the poignant backdrop of the most costly natural disaster in America’s history, MacGillivray Freeman’s IMAX® cameras follow a group of four musicians, both legendary and rising, as they explore the electrifying culture of New Orleans: speed through the beautiful, alligator-filled bayous on airboats; recount their heart-wrenching, personal stories of Katrina; and most of all, bring the focus to the rapidly disappearing wetlands that are New Orleans’ first line of defense against deadly storms. Vanishing at an astonishing rate of one acre every 38 minutes according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the wealth, cultural vitality and very future of New Orleans depend on the preservation of these wetlands. Narrated by Academy Award®-winning actress Meryl Streep and driven by a rousing Jazz, Blues and Gospel-fueled soundtrack,Hurricane on the Bayou is both a haunting document of a storm’s human effects and a compelling call to restore Louisiana’s wetlands, rebuild New Orleans, and honor the place where America’s most vibrant home-grown culture was born. -- © MacGillivray Freeman Films [More]
Director: Greg MacGillivray
Director: Greg MacGillivray
Reviews for Hurricane on the Bayou
A classic 'before and after' document, terrific images of what was once there, actual footage of the storm itself, moving TV news coverage of the disaster and a conclusion that's more optimistic than it has any right to be.
The smart, classy Hurricane on the Bayou preaches an invaluable environmental lesson for children and parents: Don't monkey with the ecosystem without expecting payback.
Despite its split personality, Hurricane offers more good than bad, including a lively soundtrack featuring Benoit, the Neville Brothers and Fats Domino.
Katrina will end up changing the entire South, from Houston to Florida, for decades to come, yet Bayou still insists on its upbeat gospel ending.
Hurricane on the Bayou makes its points in a compelling, and moving, manner.
[Features] a knockout soundtrack, some very impressive gators and two irresistible forces: Hurricane Katrina and 14-year-old fiddler and eco-warrior Amanda Shaw.
not simply another 'isn't it tragic' picture of the Gulf Coast, post-Katrina. The movie spends just as much time celebrating the joyous music that has always been a part of New Orleans...
Though some of the images of the aftermath will seem chillingly familiar, there is ample aerial footage of the destruction that carries a deeper impact because of the wide screen.
A convincing and entertaining argument for the importance of preserving Louisiana's wetlands.
It effectively showcases the indomitable spirit that has held the area together over the last year.
This is an often-moving film, but its approach to life in post-Katrina Louisiana is hopeful, even celebratory.
The devastation left by Hurricane Katrina has been well documented, but seeing it on a giant Imax screen makes it hit home in a way other media can't match.
Although its subject matter gets tossed around a little, "Hurricane on the Bayou" always gets its message across.
While it attempts to be apolitical, the filmmakers short shrift of what happened during and after Hurricane Katrina weakens an otherwise worthy film.
It's a gumbo stew of a movie in which all the ingredients don't meld neatly, but then it has an excuse: Nature beat it to the punch.
Seen on an Imax screen, the now-familiar imagery of the devastation in New Orleans and other areas takes on a new resonance as the sheer size of the affected areas is felt more fully.
The film's originally speculative scenario became reality on Aug. 29, 2005.
A film free of political fury, but full of activist optimism, this tame but heartfelt documentary is a fine companion piece to a day at the science museum.
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