More than a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, some neighbourhoods have turned into virtual wastelands. The highest price was paid by the most destitute. They lost everything: homes, possessions, sometimes even a family member whose body was never found. Relocated to trailers, they are waiting for the authorities or humanitarian associations to dig their houses out from the rubble and rebuild them.
This short film gives voice to the victims as well as to the volunteers, who wonder how useful they can be in the absence of a proper aid system. The filmmaker conveys a distinctive point of view in her almost surrealistic images of destroyed neighbourhoods. Like the volunteers who root through the ruins, she gleans memories from those whose lives were forever changed. - RIDM
Writing, directed & produced by
Anna Sarkissian
Images, sound & editing by
Anna Sarkissian
Featuring Creative Commons licensed audio
from The Freesound Project
090104F by Freed
Cminor7 by RealRhodesSound
pd_guitare by Bebeto
softerdrive by Patchen
spess by Dropthedyle
#8DE43D by Charel Sytze (not available)
tail 182 by Jovica
thunder-rumble by by Erdie
ThunderstormRemix by Fredgalist
windy lane by Mr Rolfi
French translation by
Sébastien Gauthier
Special thanks
Chris Webber
Bike and Build cyclists
New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
The residents of New Orleans