Landfall

When Hurricane María made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico in 2017, the storm devastated the territory’s land, infrastructure, and inhabitants. The U.S. government’s response was nothing short of catastrophic. For months, people went without food, water, and electricity. Tens of thousands died in the aftermath due to exposure and lack of resources. Today, many are still without basic necessities. And simultaneously, as native Puetro Ricans are being forced off the island in order to survive, white Americans are flooding Puerto Rico in search of tax breaks and luxury resorts. These deeply ingrained injustices are nothing new to the people of Puerto Rico. Indifference, exploitation, wealth disparities, and colonization did not start with María. But the hurricane and its consequences brought these broken systems to the surface. A poignant and revealing documentary, LANDFALL is an unflinching look at the overwhelming destruction left behind, not only by a natural disaster, but also by decades of corporate greed and powerful interests seeking to undermine an entire culture. (In English and Spanish with subtitles) — G.S.