(NAPSA)—A new documentary tells the story of the tsunami of 2004—and its aftermath—from the perspective of those wholived through it. The documentary film tries to capture what happens after the media and public attention moves on to the next big headline, while the critical work of healing and recovery have only just begun. In December 2004, an undersea earthquake produced a series of waves unlike any ever recorded. Reaching heights of 100 feet and traveling over 5,000 miles, “The Tsunami,” as it came to be known, leveled coastal communities and killed more than 230,000 people. Ultimately, it was considered by someto be oneof the deadliest natural disasters in humanhistory. The film—*“Kepulihan: Stories from the Tsunami”—follows the lives of three survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. These individuals actively volunteered to tell their stories and participate in the makingofthefilm. The film’s title comes from an Indonesian word for healing and recovery. As the film crew returned to Sumatra each year, the survivors being profiled were allowed to view footage from their previous interviews so that they could reflect on their experience and report on their lives since then. Filmmakers were intent on allowing each survivor to participate in the creation of the documentary, letting it play a critical role in their personal recovery process. The film attempts to draw a clear line between the immediacy i Tk. eh ™~e yA ) YN Damai was injured and confined to a wheelchair after the 2004 tsunami. of news coverage and attention in the aftermath of a disaster and how people’s lives are impacted for years after a life-altering event. The end result is the need for long-term disaster recovery assistance. Filmmaker David Barnhart worked closely with partner groups, including The Presbyter- ian Disaster Assistance, relief workers and medical agencies, to establish a connection with the people being considered for the documentary. Barnhart has specialized in documenting communities impacted by war and natural disasters, focusing his lens in Latin America and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has also profiled homeless migrant workers in Chicago and the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. To learn more, visit the film’s Facebook page or http://thetsunami film.com. ween enn nn nn nnn nee eee eeeQEao enn Editor’s Note: The film will air on select ABC affiliates throughout the country on November 21, 2010. Check local listings or contact local ABC affiliates for information.
