Donny Broussard Reviews: Louisiana Story: The Reverse Angle

Robert Flaherty’s “Louisiana Story” turns 60 this year, and to commemorate this milestone of documentary filmmaking LPB (Louisiana Public Broadcasting) released “Louisiana Story: The Reverse Angle.” The film documents the making of “Louisiana Story” by bringing together members of the cast and crew to talk about the creation of this historic film.

Flaherty, who directed the classic “Nanook of the North” provides us with a vision of Louisiana through the eyes of a young Cajun boy and his family after an oil company brings a drilling rig into their Acadian community. While “Louisiana Story: The Reverse Angle” interviews Legendary cinematographer Richard Leacock, the star of the original film J.C. Boudreaux. Providing anyone who watches the film with an idea of the impact that the original “Louisiana Story” and the oil industry had on Acadian culture.

The film was shot in Louisiana and the filmmakers picked Abbeville (my hometown) as their base of operations, and even premiered the film at the historic Frank’s Theater. Director Tika Laudun, and Writer C. E. Richard did a wonderful job of stringing together interviews, photos, and footage to bring a fresh perspective on a time in Louisiana’s history that is not often remembered by modern day Cajuns. They even bring to light the fact that the Flaherty’s film was financed by the Standard Oil Company in order to increase interest in the oil industry.

The visuals in this film are beautiful and the interviews are fascinating. It doesn’t matter if your from Abbeville, Louisiana or Hollywood, California check out this film as well as the original “Louisiana Story” because they are both killer films.