The World

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall east of New Orleans, causing storm water
surge to flood 80% of the city. Damage estimates were calculated at $81.2 billion, making it the
costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. At least 1,836 New Orleans residents lost their lives.

The work of recovering from the storm will take years, if not decades. Mental health services in particular are lacking, and this is a foreboding trend for those people dealing with the loss of loved ones. The protagonists of the film, the Baptiste Family, typify this situation.

However, the spirit of New Orleans has yet to be diminished. While the population has
not regained its pre-Katrina numbers, families, artists and professionals are returning
to the city to build their lives anew. Popular social movements have never been
stronger and many residents feel that the storm encouraged their spiritual
connections and strengthened their communities. It is this resilience that
continues to inspire the filmmakers, and will be showcased in the film.