STORYLINE: On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene swept through the mountains of Western North Carolina, unleashing devastating floods that reshaped both the landscape and the lives of those who call it home. Rivers surged beyond their banks, roads crumbled, homes were lost, and entire communities were left reeling. But this is not just a story of destruction. It is a story of what came next. Rising Above Helene is a documentary about the strength of people and community. Through heartfelt interviews, sweeping visuals, and on-the-ground storytelling, the film captures the quiet determination of neighbors who came together to rebuild what was broken. Across the counties of Western North Carolina, we see the resilience that defines these mountain communities. Local governments played a key role in the recovery, helping to coordinate emergency response and support long-term rebuilding. Their efforts, alongside those of countless volunteers and community members, helped lay the foundation for renewal and hope. This film is a tribute to the spirit of Western North Carolina, a region where the rivers may rise but the people rise higher. (IMDb)

     Nature it a natural subject to document for feature length documentaries. Climate change was the topic of conversation in the Oscar winning An Inconvenient Truth (2006).  2022’s Fire of Love erupted into theaters as it focused on volcanoes.  When the Leeves Broke (2006) turned it’s lens on Hurricane Katrina.  Hurricane Helene recovery is the topic of the new independent documentary, Rising Above Helene.

   Documentaries tend to take their time, by spoon feeding the audience information, before getting to their main subject.  I understand the need to setup your point.  There is a difference between catching the audience up, and dragging it out.  

   Hurricane Helene is in recent enough memory where this step was unnecessary.  The filmmakers behind the documentary, Rising Above Helene, skipped this step, and start immediately putting their focus on the their subjects.  This made for a tighter film, and an over all more enjoyable viewing experience.  I say that last part because when the background information drags on to long it can become repetitive, and take me out if the movie.   

    Rising Above Helene had the interviews the viewer would expect in a documentary of this sort.  There is a variety of subjects, focusing on the effects of the storm, and their personal recovery efforts.  Included in the interviews about the recovery efforts are local government officials about their struggles, as well.  These interviews include, looking forward to the next event.  None of these interviews were groundbreaking, but heartwarming none the less.

    The interesting parts of the film were how the local nature landscape had changed, as a direct result of Hurricane Helene. The segments were minor, but done just enough to be fasinating. They also weren’t dine overly scientifically, so it did not go over my head.

    Rising Above Helene  was a documentary that jumped straight into its subject, with all the typical interviews. As the documentary presented its information in that way, it’s points were made well.

    Until next time I will see you at the movies!