Katrina Tails (2007), $34 (includes shipping)

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina roared across the Gulf Coast, bypassing New Orleans but causing damage to its network of levees that resulted in a forced evacuation of the city’s residents. No provision was made for companion animals to be included in the evacuation, so many people refused to leave without their pets. Some lost their lives as a result; others were forced at gunpoint to evacuate, leaving their beloved pets to a certain death; and a few even had to witness their pets being shot by law enforcement officers. Katrina Tails follows a disparate group of New Orleans residents in their efforts to be reunited with their pets in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We view the events from both sides of the fence: the pet owners’ searches and the rescue workers’ efforts to save pets that have been trapped in the flooded city. This feature-length documentary provides insight into the human/animal bond, couched in a narrative to which everyone can relate: the search for a loved one. See the filmmakers site for more information.

Hexing a Hurricane (2006), $13 (includes shipping)

The film begins back when life was “normal” in New Orleans – six weeks before Hurricane Katrina forever changed the landscape of the city. Hexing opens with a 9th Ward VooDoo Ceremony asking for protection from dangerous storms. After the ominous hurricane strikes a few weeks following the service, the film follows locals on a roller coaster ride of despair, tragedy and most of all–hope. Above all, the film sends a clear message: New Orleans desperately needs and deserves more help. See the filmmakers site for more information.

Think of Me First as a Person (2006), $14.95

This is a short documentary about a boy with Down Syndrome, the original footage of which was shot on 16mm in the 1960s by the boy’s father, Dwight Core, Sr. The filmmaker’s grandson, George Ingmire, completed the film 40 years later. It explores perceptions about Down Syndrome from the viewpoints of the boy, his sister, and the father. The sincere tone and heartwarming narration by the father lends a remarkable poignancy to this film. The story that unfolds within this documentary is sure to shed light on both the struggles and blessings of raising a child with special needs. Selected for the National Film Registry, 2006.