The Frontline PBS documentary Blackout in Puerto Rico (2018) provides a convincing and informative investigation of the reasons behind the humanitarian and economic crisis in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
In 2017, Hurricane Maria, the worst natural disaster in the history of mankind, destroyed much of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, leaving thousands of people without water and electricity. Months after the hurricane, the island was still struggling to repair the damage and provide essentials to people left without their homes, water, and electricity. The documentary by Frontline and NPR investigates the reasons behind the region’s failure to adequately address the crisis, providing disturbing insights into the financial and humanitarian challenges that Puerto Rico currently faces.
Blackout in Puerto Rico features a step-by-step investigation of the crisis that starts with journalists coming to the island seven months after the hurricane and finding it in a state of devastation. The search for the reasons behind the blackout leads them to the financial and political roots of the problem. The film develops a theory and presents evidence to illustrate how the federal response, the Wall Street, and years of neglect have left the island struggling to survive. The documentary uses unique footage and multiple details, facts, and figures to confirm that Puerto Rico’s crisis is caused not only by the hurricane. The journalists managed to find people who have never been interviewed on the subject and the information that has never been revealed before. The film also features personal stories of people who were affected by the disaster and are struggling to cope with the consequences. Overall, the documentary is exciting, well-structured, and informative and succeeds in capturing and retaining the viewers’ attention until the end.
Reference
Frontline PBS | Official. (2018). Blackout in Puerto Rico (full film, Spanish captions available) | Frontline [Video]. YouTube. Web.