Mine (2009)

MINE is the powerful story about the essential bond between humans and animals told against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. MINE explores how tragedy ... See full summary »

Director:

Geralyn Pezanoski

Writers:

Erin Essenmacher, Geralyn Pezanoski (creator)

Star:

Karen O'Toole

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Karen O'Toole	...	Herself

Storyline

MINE is the powerful story about the essential bond between humans and animals told against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. MINE explores how tragedy intensifies that bond and is told from the perspective of original guardians, rescuers, and adoptive parents of the voiceless victims of Katrina. These individuals are all connected by two things, the tragic aftermath of Katrina and their love of animals. In response to an unprecedented crisis, thousands of pets needed to be transported around the country and adopted even when their displaced guardians still desperately wanted them. Meanwhile, many adoptive guardians have forged strong bonds with their new pets, nurturing them back to health from the traumas they suffered during and after the storm. When two families love the same pet, conflicts inevitably arise over who is the rightful "owner" and what is right for the animal. At the center of this tension are pets who are loved like family, but by ...

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Plot Keywords:

pet | katrina | hurricane katrina | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Independent Lens site Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mine: Taken by Katrina

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$450,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,832, 15 January 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$11,283, 7 February 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Smush Media

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A Labor of Love on the tragedy of New Orleans' Lost Pets

Mine had its World Premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival where it was very enthusiastically received. Mine compliments the many fine films that have been made about the tragedy of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. Whereas a film like Spike Lee's remarkable film, When the Levees Broke provides a broad account of the flood, Mine focuses in a single and often overlooked aspect of the tragedy: the fate of the house pets – particularly the dogs – left behind in New Orleans, because the owners weren't allowed to evacuate with them. Mine is beautifully and lovingly filmed. It introduces us to a series of different pet owners and tells of their struggles to recover their dogs, who are really members of their extended family. The importance of pets to people's lives is explored and we see the heroic efforts of the animal lovers who try to rescue the pets and reunite them with their owners.

Through this lens of the lost pets of New Orleans we see many of the social divisions of American society play out as New Orleanians, often with very limited means, attempt to recover their beloved lost pets. Some are even forced to file lawsuits in an attempt to recover their lost "property." This film should be widely viewed as our country attempts to grapple with the infinitely complex and continuing social consequences of the man-made tragedy of New Orleans. Perhaps this deeply personal angle will open the eyes of some Americans to the deep and unending personal devastation caused by our government's response to this long-anticipated disaster. This beautiful, inspiring film deserves to be widely seen.