Official Synopsis:
In the wake of one of the worst natural and humanitarian disasters ever to visit American shores, nearly 600 African-Americans were airlifted to the almost entirely white state of Utah…without their knowledge. Desert Bayou seeks to examine whether two cultures can come together in a time of utter chaos, or whether their differences prove too great a challenge to overcome. In their own words, evacuees of Hurricane Katrina tell how they survived the storm of the century and, out of the rubble, ended up at a military installation in the Utah deserts. With interviews from recording artist master P. celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, evacuees, political and military leaders, and community and social figures, the questions of race, politics and religion hurdle towards each other in this truly American story: a story of loss and reunion of sorrow and rebirth, of anger and rejoicing, but most of all…a story of hope.
  
Our Take:
Desert Bayou strikes me as one of those movies that try to drum up controversy to generate lots of free publicity that the producers probably hoped would translate into millions at the box office. This “documentary” spends the vast majority of the time questioning if white Utah residents were racist because the accommodations provided to the black Hurricane Katrina refugees were given emergency housing in a remote military installation.

Well, where else would people reasonably expect a vacant housing stock capable of providing almost 1,000 people with immediate housing, other than tents or contaminated FEMA trailers? Any hint of controversy was probably kindled from the inflammatory rabbi, Shmuley Boteach, to increase ratings for his morning radio show, who plays a prominent part in the film. The supposed examination of the culture clash between predominantly white Utah and the black Katrina refugees centered on the experiences of a handful of people, and most of the time is devoted to three or four individuals.

In the last chapter, the producers nonchalantly try to make amends for bashing the generosity that Utah residents had extended to the refugees, saying that they were not racists; they welcomed the refugees into their communities and lives, and offered them jobs. And while there are some riveting human interesting moments in the DVD, you’ll have to sit through a lot of drivel to get to them.

Extras included with the DVD are:

* Interviews with:

- Utah Governor Jon Hunstman, Jr.  (9 minutes).

- Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson (37 minutes).

- Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (39 minutes).

- New Orleans Civil Sheriff Paul Valteau, Jr. (14 minutes).

- Displaced New Orleans resident Marcus Henry-LaCouvia (19 minutes).

* Trailer.

If Desert Bayou were a book instead of a DVD, I would recommend you keep it in the bathroom for emergency use when you ran out of toilet paper. Since it is not a paper product, I can only recommend that you not waste your money by buying this DVD.

Overall Picture:
Movie: D-
DVD: B-

- Tony Gray
Staff Writer