Scenes from a new film on post-Katrina New Orleans, which chronicles the city’s troubled attempts to deal with its destruction, while planning its reconstruction.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina dealt the city of New Orleans a near-fatal blow from which it has yet to recover. With entire neighborhoods underwater, communities suddenly finding themselves in exile and city services and infrastructure in disarray, the prospects for reconstruction looked bleak. Hundreds lost their lives in the disaster, while economic damaged was estimated to be over $100 billion.

Over four years later, a battle still rages in New Orleans over where, what and how to rebuild.

Producer and director Luisa Dantas has been following the reconstruction process on the ground in New Orleans since 2006. Working alongside local social justice and grassroots organizations, Dantas has pieced together a narrative about post-Katrina reality called “Land of Opportunity.”

From the website: “A feature-length film and multi-platform project, LAND OF OPPORTUNITY follows a diverse group of people in the early years of post-catastrophe New Orleans as they struggle with the most American of pursuits: seizing opportunity in the wake of tragedy. We get to know local and displaced residents, urban planners, immigrant laborers, and activists, as they try to build a better future for themselves and their families while restoring the “water-proof soul” of America.”

Land of Opportunity is scheduled to be released in 2010.

Check out the trailer:

More clips:

Sectioned Off from JoLu on Vimeo.

Out of Site from JoLu on Vimeo.

Deep Sixed from JoLu on Vimeo.

St. Joe (experimental short) from JoLu on Vimeo.