Mine

Documentary Feature, Documentary Competition
D: Geralyn Pezanoski

An estimated 150,000 animals died in the aftermaths of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and some countless other number of them were temporarily misplaced or lost for good. As the wrenching but redemptive documentary Mine makes clear, however, it’s probably inaccurate to think of pets left in New Orleans as “abandoned.” Mine is gripping and delves into both the conditions that forced the underclass in New Orleans to have little option but to leave their pets behind during the hurricane and the surprise of pet owners in other parts of the country who unknowingly adopted a Katrina pet unaware that its owner might one day resurface to reclaim that pet. Pezanoski uncovers the stories of several Katrina victims who successfully find their pets but also the journey of one African-American New Orleans resident who lays it out plain and clear: “I think if people knew … that I’m a pillar in my community and if they knew how very much I care about J.J., I wouldn’t have to go through this.”

Saturday, March 21, 4:30pm, Austin Convention Center

This article appears in March 20 • 2009.

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