Dark Water Rising
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Directed by Mike Shiley Written by Mike Shiley Produced by Mike Shiley Kim Upham Genre Runtime: 75 min Release Date: November 2007 Advisory: Language Filmmaker's Website Send to Friends |
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Download to own “Dark Water Rising” for $6.99 |
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Plot Outline
Over 50,000 dogs and cats were left behind in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This forced separation created America’s first-ever major animal rescue.
A dedicated and compassionate group of volunteer rescuers and animal welfare groups from around the world risked their lives to sledgehammer down doors and brave toxic floodwaters in a truly heroic effort to save nearly 10,000 animals.
Some rescuers worked the official rescue organizations, like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Best Friends, and the American Humane Society, while others joined a more aggressive rescue outfit, code named Winn Dixie.
This film tells many uplifting stories of hope and survival as pets are reunited with their owners while other lucky animals find loving new homes.
Rescuers came from all walks of life and backgrounds to help out. From passionate animal activists to prison inmates, an entire cross section of America interrupted their daily routines to do the right thing in face of incredible odds.
Because of the media exposure of this historic rescue operation, Congress passed the PETS Act, which requires states to have animal evacuation plans in place in order to receive FEMA funding.
Dark Water Rising is a film about hope and survival in the face of the one of the worst natural disasters in American history.
It will renew your faith in the American spirit.
Awards
Smithsonian Permanent Archive Material
Reviews I very much enjoyed your documentary. Congratulations on your fine work. It’s an excellent portrayal of what went on in Louisiana. Fantastic job! This hard-hitting documentary is now a permanent part of our Hurricane Katrina record of archival material. Thank you for your powerful expression of respect for life in all it’s forms. As a social commentary, “Dark Water Rising” is illuminating and important in equal measure. As a film, it’s one of the most fascinating of the year. It’s a presentation of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth…and will prove to be an illuminating experience, serving as both a cultural artifact and an exemplary piece of cinema. Sometimes, a film is so compelling it’s difficult to find the words that describe it. Such is the case with the superb but chilling “Dark Water Rising.” This is a movie about courage. It could renew your faith in the human — and animal — spirit. I’ve been wading through Spike Lee’s four-hour Katrina documentary, for the last several nights, so I thought I’d seen everything there was to see. Shiley can hardly be accused of turning a blind eye to what went on down there. What could have been an advertisement for Katrina animal rescuers is instead a tough-minded and complex look at the relationship between humans and animals, and how it wasn’t only the people of the Gulf Coast who were let down by their government. This is possibly one of the most honest portraits of New Orleans that will come out of the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Spike Lee’s film is unlikely to be take such a candid view of life… nor to present such vivid portraits of American life It’s a way we can testify that the lives of our animals are entwined with our own -- and that those lives matter. A blunt and very effective instrument. ...tough and straightforward. What could’ve been a sob-fest is instead an unflinching look at the determined characters who volunteered to search houses for surviving pets. …they were in the right place at the right time, and their footage is fascinating. It’s actually one of the most effective efforts I’ve seen at portraying the scope of the devastation in Louisiana, as well as a fascinating character study. “Dark Water Rising” does two things well: It points out Katrina’s toll on New Orleans and its animal population, and it celebrates the hard work of volunteers who pitched in when they were needed. It’s such a compelling story that you can’t take your eyes off it. For animal lovers, it’s required viewing. In impromptu courtrooms of waterlogged walls and mold-covered furniture, they were judge and jury.
It’s a powerful film of bravery and compassion that documents the courage and dedication of caring people to right the wrongs of others. It will touch your heart.
Elliot M. Katz, DVM, Founder and President, In Defense of Animals
Wayne Pacelle, President, The Humane Society of the United States, Washington DC
Ripley Forbes, American Humane Association, Washington, DC
David Shayt, Associate Curator, Smithsonian Institution
Aaron Ensweiler, U-WIRE > read full review
Linda Cook, Reporter, Quad City Times, Davenport, IA > read full review
Dean Robbins, Arts Editor, The Isthmus Weekly, Madison, WI
Rob Thomas, Film Critic, The Capital Times, Madison, WI
Pete, Small Fish online cultural and film blog, UK > read full review
Debra Woods, Pet Reporter, The Oregonian, Portland, OR
Mike Russell, The Oregonian, A&E Weekend Movie Review > read full review
Anne Marie DiStefano, Film Critic, The Portland Tribune > read full review
Becky Ohlsen, Film Critic, Willamette Week, Portland, OR > read full review
Allison Hallett, Film Critic, The Portland Mercury, Portland, OR > read full review
Scott Renshaw, Film Critic, Salt Lake City Weekly > read full review
Sean P. Means, Film Critic, Salt Lake City Tribune > read full review
Jeff Vice, Film Critic, Deseret Morning News, Salt Lake City > read full review
Denise Flaim, Reporter, Newsday, New York City
Castlist
Aaron Minjares
Larry Roberts
Kim Upham
Music
Danny East
Thomas Schroyer
Cinematographers
Mike Shiley
Kim Upham
Film Editors
Lindsey Goodwin-Grayzel
Mike Shiley
Screenings
2007 San Luis Obispo Film Festival
2006 Australian International Film Festival
2006 Salt Lake City Film Festival
2006 Green Screen Film Festival
