3 p.m., Sunday, September 23, 2012
FREE (tickets required)

Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts presents a screening of "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, " Spike Lee's intimate, heartrending documentary film of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, at 3 p.m., Sunday, September 23, 2012. Admission is free; tickets are required and available through the Quick Center box office. The screening is part of a series of upcoming film screenings on campus that will explore the theme of Cities, which is the central area of focus for Fairfield University over the next two academic years. Through a variety of courses, lectures, performances, and exhibitions, Fairfield University faculty, staff, students, and the greater community will be invited to view and discuss how these modern urban creations influence filmmakers, stories, characters, and ultimately the audience and greater world.

Spike Lee's award-winning documentary " When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (Unrated, 4 hrs. 15 min.) brings to life the devastation that Hurricane Katrina left upon the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2005. In late August of that year, the city experienced one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history as the storm devastated a city known so well for its unique culture and community. In his 2006 documentary of the tragedy and aftermath of the storm, Spike Lee shows viewers the story of the people of New Orleans who endured both the hurricane and the failure of the levees surrounding much of the city. Although a good portion of the film is devoted to pointing out the ways that the disaster could have been prevented and the inadequate relief the city received, one of its main focuses is the strong will, hope, and determination of a people refusing to be deterred by such a traumatic ordeal.

The film also features an appearance from the renowned Hot 8 Brass Band, a group based out of New Orleans with a musical style that combines elements of jazz, funk, and hip hop. The group will play at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Friday, September 28, 2012. The band's members were among the countless number of city residents affected by Hurricane Katrina. Their appearance in the film brought them into the national spotlight, along with their non-profit relief project Save Our Brass!, a program with the goal of bringing back music to the city of New Orleans through uniting local musicians and collecting and distributing instruments throughout the community. The Hot 8 are underground legends who bring an endless amount of energy and fun to their shows, with a style that appeals to people of all different musical tastes. Concert tickets are $35, $30, and $25.

For the "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, Spike Lee and his crew took a series of eight trips down to New Orleans just three months after Hurricane Katrina. The film is broken into four acts, each of which are about an hour long and cover different aspects of the storm's effects and aftermath. It originally screened on HBO towards the end of August 2006. The film was featured in several well-known film festivals, and received a number of awards including three at the 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396).

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit www.quickcenter.com .

Posted On: 09-21-2012 11:09 AM

Volume: 45 Number: 52