Spike Lee Says Katrina Documentary Is Exposing Bush Administration Failures

Director Spike Lee told reporters at the Venice Film Festival that his documentary about Hurricane Katrina has influenced American public opinion by highlighting what he called the incompetence of the Bush administration. Lee was in Venice for the European premiere of his four-hour film, 'When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.'

Lee said cable broadcasts of the film in the United States had produced a profound effect on viewers, and he expressed hope the administration would accelerate efforts to rebuild New Orleans. He insisted the city remained largely in ruins, dismissing a recent presidential visit as a staged photo opportunity.

The film traces the storm's aftermath through survivor accounts, focusing on the anger of low-income Black communities who bore the brunt of the disaster. Lee described the work as unfinished, arguing that the city's ongoing recovery made any final account impossible.

Lee connected Katrina to the war in Iraq as twin factors eroding public confidence in Bush, noting the president's approval ratings had reached historic lows. He was sharply critical of several senior officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.