Hurricane on the Bayou, the latest feature film to hit the Great Lakes Science Center’s humongous Omnimax Theater, has the potential to be a major downer. After all, who wants to view pain and devastation on a screen the size of the Superdome? But the film isn’t just about Katrina. In fact, the filmmakers began shooting many months before the hurricane leveled New Orleans. They originally set out to make a travelogue about Louisiana’s swamp country, with musicians Tab Benoit and Amanda Shaw leading viewers on a tour of their homeland. But in the middle of the production, Katrina slammed into the city, essentially altering the film’s perspective. Suddenly, Hurricane on the Bayou became a portrait of a city in turmoil. Still, it’s an ultimately joyous celebration (narrated by Meryl Streep) of New Orleans’ music, alligators, and wetlands.
Jan. 21-July 31, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2007.