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Brian Nobles, Jerome Baham, Kendall "Wink" Rivers, Larry Simms, Kimberly Rivers Roberts ... see more see more... , Scott Roberts , Larry Sims

Relegated to the role of refugees in their own country the moment the levees broke, New Orleans residents Kimberly and Scott Roberts document their harrowing struggle against the forces of nature and ... read more read more...the evils of man as they nobly attempt to rebuild their lives amidst one of the greatest natural disasters ever to befall the United States. Kimberly Rivers Roberts is a musician and filmmaker who was living in New Orleans with her husband, Scott, when the force of Hurricane Katrina transformed their once-happy hometown into a waterlogged wasteland. In the aftermath of the disaster, the nightly news was filled with images of looting and chaos. Now, as the masses finally receive the opportunity to witness events from an insider's perspective, it quickly becomes apparent that the rampaging waters were only the beginning of the problem, and that the ineptitude of the government and the media in dealing with the disaster did nearly as much damage to New Orleans as the forces of Mother Nature. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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86% liked it

1,743 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

74 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin

Release Date: August 22, 2008

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DVD Release Date: August 25, 2009

Stats: 241 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (241)

  • RCCLBC
    September 16, 2008
    RCCLBC
    While this is a bit too (understandably) biased to be labeled a true documentary...it is still quite a powerful look at one of the most horrific events in recent American history.

    What makes this version of a "Katrina Story" so powerful, is that it is a story that is shot from... read more "the inside". And by "the inside" I'm not only refering to the gut wrenching footage that was shot on home video pre, during and post Katrina. I also use that term to describe the view it provides into the heart and soul of the poverty stricken 9th ward, where most of the damage took place.

    While this is presented as the story of one woman, I think that the story is (sadly) global. The difference is that most stories involving similar circumstance, don't inspire as much hope.

    The heroine of this story is a survivor. Someone who has been dealt one difficult hand after another, but who has been blessed with just enough spiritual fortitude to allow her to persevere.

    It's hard to look into her eyes and her heart (not to mention those of her friends, family and neighbors) and not be touched by their spirit. They have (for the most part) all been relegated to this life, mostly due to lack of education and/or opportunity. And then disenfranchised and demoralized by society.

    As a (pre Katrina) resident of New Orleans for several years I must point out that much of what is said in this film about the failure of city and national government in regards to American citizens that (for whatever reason) have fallen into poverty, can be applied (to some extent) to every major cities across America. This is not simply a New Orleans story, it just happens to take place there.

    Katrina served as a wake up call to America (and the world). Ripping the tattered bandage off of this festering wound (poverty) on the soul of America and exposing the fact that our governments incompetence goes far beyond foriegn affairs.

    As difficult as it is to accept, what is important now is that we remember, what was revealed to us when the storm passed. And more importantly, that we make sure that the people who we elect to represent us...also remember.
  • gator681
    July 7, 2010
    gator681
    "Trouble the Water" is a documentary about Kim and Scott Roberts who lacking transportation decided to ride out Hurricane Katrina in their home in New Orleans, stocking up on supplies and filming home movies before, during and after. Luckily, they made it not only out of their h... read moreome alive after the levees broke, first from their attic, then to a neighbor's home on higher ground and later 220 miles away to Alexandria, La. The movie speaks not only to their harrowing journey of survival but also to the unpreparedness and intransigence of the authorities who were seemingly more interested in protecting property than saving lives. More help came from families and friends but only the government can work on the huge scale required.(There are many invocations of religion which speaks to the general helplessness of the situation.) Such laissez-faire attitudes are also the indirect cause of the oil spill that is currently causing so much damage in the gulf coast. The documentary squanders its excellent point of view by focusing more on the familiar larger story, than the more intimate, smaller story, as it gets off a ridiculously cheap shot towards the finish. Sadly, the movie also eventually runs out of steam, not having a clear idea when to end, as the story is still ongoing.
  • zeravenyoej
    September 7, 2009
    zeravenyoej
    politically rousing
  • wbgoose13
    October 26, 2008
    wbgoose13
    Damning ground-level portrait of how tragic Katrina ultimately turned out to be. Second only to Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke.
  • rickrudge
    May 9, 2011
    rickrudge
    Trouble The Water (2008)

    This is a very interesting documentary, where a New Orleans resident gets a video camera during Hurricane Katrina and the terrible aftermath.

    At first Kimberly Rivers Roberts is getting the hang of holding the camera still, but she is showing us a vi... read moreew of the 9th Ward and their occupants, that most of us never got to see. Her old man, Scott Roberts helps. We really start to get to know these people.

    While the people who can afford to evacuate, are doing it, the poor resolve to hunker down and hope for the best. Like we, on the West coast think that we'll do alright on an earthquake until a richter 6+ hits, these guys are worrying when the flood waters reach the attic floor of their shotgun house.

    The movie is interspersed with scenes from the news services, and audio from the 911 dispatcher, giving us yet another view of the aftermath. Stuff like not getting any help or rescue efforts, as well as no food, drinkable water or shelter. An empty Naval base is guarded to keep out the homeless.

    The whole 9th Ward is basically treated like an impoverished third-world country and war zone, that our own country wants to completely ignore. Ironically, the rest of New Orleans wants it to be "Business as Usual".

    The thing that I didn't particularly like about the movie, besides the fact that we get to see Kimberly gain about 30 pounds throughout the length of the film, but the movie begins to get slicker and Kimberly goes Hollywood with self-promotion as a rapper artist. But, most of the movie is well worth you checking out.
  • SexiVixxEN
    August 31, 2010
    SexiVixxEN
    Its movies like this after seeing them that at times I am ashamed to call myself an American.How the hell does something like this happen in our country?George Bush had already made such a mess of our country I was sick to death of him,this was the Icing on the cake.^ days? Why d... read moreid it take 6 days to get water to the Superdome?Why were these people not evacuated?Sad documentary folks.I think every American should watch this to see the HELL these people went through and the positive upbeat spirit a few held in their hearts while their city fell apart all around them.See it!
  • philliprenke
    July 3, 2010
    philliprenke
    A rare oppurtunity to see first hand footage from someone that was trapped in New Orleans during Katrina. We follow Kimberly Roberts as she barely escapes with her life and then has to deal with the aftermath of trying to find help from friends, relatives and the ever sluggish re... read mored tape of the government.
  • jam233
    August 19, 2009
    jam233
    What a fascinating documentary, the footage is amazing and it gives such a hands on depiction of Hurricane Katrina and what really went on. Very moving and even more so - disturbing. Candid and very convincingly made.
  • Michael9636
    February 4, 2009
    Michael9636
    This is probably a good movie. However, the hand-held camera work, constant jiggling, drove me crazy. I got so dizzy and nauseous I had to leave the theater after 15 minutes.

View All Trouble the Water Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
February 13, 2009
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

'God's gonna trouble the water,' goes the chorus from the African-American spiritual that gives Trouble the Water its title, but no deity is to blame for the tide of bureaucratic bungling and inhumani... Full Review

Rick Groen
February 12, 2009
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

The person at the centre emerges as a force of nature unto herself. Meet, and prepare to be inspired by, Kimberly Rivers Roberts. Full Review

Joe Leydon
October 31, 2008
Joe Leydon, Houston Chronicle

You can't help wanting -- and maybe needing -- to read into her indomitable spiritedness something like a reason for hope. For her, for other Katrina survivors, for all of us. Full Review

Roger Moore
October 22, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's not quite a Grapes of Wrath for our times, but Trouble the Water does give a voice to people America didn't see or listen to before Katrina. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
October 17, 2008
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

A tale of natural and civic catastrophe, Trouble the Water is also a frank yet inspired saga about poverty, survival and what lies beyond. Full Review

David Hiltbrand
October 2, 2008
David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer

Trouble the Water is choppy, overly long and at times almost indecipherable, but it's indelible. Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 19, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Roberts needs more practice at holding the camera steady and framing shots. It doesn't matter. We feel her footage at the base of our spines. Full Review

Colin Covert
September 18, 2008
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Trouble the Water proves that a couple of gutsy amateurs with a home video camera can work wonders. Full Review

David Denby
September 8, 2008
David Denby, New Yorker

Trouble the Water, along with Spike Lee's extraordinary four-hour epic, When the Levees Broke, remains one of the most eloquent records we have of a tragedy that brought out some of the most impressiv... Full Review

Ruthe Stein
September 5, 2008
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

Is there more to be said about this national catastrophe? Yes, definitely, as the engrossing documentary Trouble the Water shows in just about every frame. Full Review

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