The Big Uneasy 2011

In 2005, a catastrophic event unfolded in New Orleans, a moment forever etched in history. But do we truly grasp the full extent of what happened? Enter The Big Uneasy, the inaugural documentary from the renowned “mockumentarian” Harry Shearer. This film focuses on three extraordinary individuals—the heads of two scientific investigative teams and a courageous whistleblower—as they uncover the stark reality behind the flood that devastated the city and the alarming possibility of it occurring again.

Harry Shearer’s relentless pursuit of truth brings to light a narrative that was perhaps too easily overlooked. Through interviews and personal stories, he captures the insights of those who experienced the disaster firsthand. As the film unfolds, viewers are drawn into the investigation that reveals critical flaws in the methods responsible for the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina. Astonishingly, Shearer discovers that many of the same ineffective strategies are still being utilized to reconstruct the levee system that is intended to safeguard the new New Orleans from future threats.

The Big Uneasy doesn’t merely recount an event; it serves as a cautionary tale about our collective ignorance regarding the conditions that led to one of the nation’s most tragic disasters. It shines a light on the crucial need for improvement in engineering practices and the importance of accountability in oversight. The film issues a stark warning: the same agency that failed to protect New Orleans is persistently relying on outdated and defective scientific practices that could jeopardize many cities across America.

With a compelling narrative and insightful revelations, this documentary marks a pivotal shift in understanding the past, aiming to ensure that the calamity of New Orleans is neither forgotten nor repeated. Audiences are left with the haunting realization that unless significant changes are made, history might indeed have the unsettling tendency to repeat itself in other vulnerable areas.