Treme: how real

[drewyallop]

This is completely off topic and moderator feel free to take it down; But I have been watching the HBO series Treme and I am wondering how accurately it reflect life in New Orleans.

The depiction of NO post-Katrina is grim. The show depict serious tragedy - families and friendships decimated, houses wrecked, dislocation. But it also shows a unique culture, centred on music and tradition, a rich stewpot of cultures, languages, race.

Question is for those who have grown up there, is this accurate? And if it is, I'm going.

Drew

 

[Brian Manzella]

Is is real?

Let me say first of all, I like "Treme" the series on HBO. And before I answer "drewyallop's" questions directly, let me set the stage—so to speak.

The central character in the show, Davis McAlary, is played by actor Steve Zahn. I know 10,000 people from New Orleans well enough to know NONE of them are ANYTHING like this cat, even though he is based on a real dude.

Treme is the hood, man. It is a place where I wouldn't go at night EVER. I drive trough parts of it, maybe one a year—in the daytime.

And that is often by accident.

I know LOTS of African-American New Orleanians, and numerous musicians, and for the most part, they get that "close to downtown" culture mostly right. The people THOSE characters are based on are more like folks I know. Of course, some of them are more or less playing themselves.

I don't know any Mardi Gras Indians, so I don't know how much they wear that on their sleeve, but I'd guess it is over the top of what is real.

Treme got some water during Katrina, but not enough to wholesale knock everything down. Thank God, because those old school New Orleans architecture is priceless.

But remember, Treme ain't the suburbs. And it isn't Lakeview where I live, or Uptown, or even the "Quarter." It is a place where, well... I wouldn't live, ya dig?

Now to answer your questions:

"How accurately (does) it reflect life in New Orleans?" - The city is unique, and the series NAILS some things. If rarely WHIFFS. But, like I said, Treme is a neighborhood. They may take the show to the "lower 9" or to some other part of town I wouldn't live in, but it seems to only show the Gotham City parts. Trust me, Archie Manning's Garden District Neighborhood is WAY MORE real New Orleans than Treme.


"The depiction of NO post-Katrina is grim." — Right after the flood, it was grim. And this is where the show is set. But it's WAY DIFFERENT now.

Mark this down: If you come to New Olreans for the Sugar Bowl, or for a Hornets game, or a Saints game, or the Jazz Fest, or Mardi Gras, you WILL NEVER KNOW THAT THERE EVER WAS A KATRINA. Until you go to a neighborhood, then you will see remnants. But in Treme, I don't see construction. Heck there are new houses going up almost EVERYWHERE else.


"It also shows a unique culture, centred on music and tradition, a rich stewpot of cultures, languages, race."

That's the best part, They get this right. This IS what the city is. A gumbo, in a bowl, where you can get gumbo in a bowl.

Ya dig?


"Is this accurate? And if it is, I'm going."

Come on.


Wher Ya'T?

 

[mgranato]

During college, we got to play games in NO, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport - LA is easily one of the neatest places we have in the states. My roommate was from Homa, that was an education - felt like I should have gotten an extra language credit for that.

 

[Chip Putterman]

Remember, it is a TV show and there is a good deal of artistic license taken. But the things that make New Orleans a unique city are not exagerated. That being: music, food, politics and attitude. If you come to New Orleans, don't be surprised if a total stranger starts a conversation with you. It happens all the time. The city has both the friendliest people and the rudest drivers. This passage from Chris Rose's book pretty much sums it up.
"Dear America,
I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We are the Who Dat Nation. You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange music and eat things you'd probably hire an exterminator to kill. Football for us is like a Mardi Gras parade. We wear costumes to our Saints games. We dance even if there's no radio because the music is in our soul. We drink and eat too much even at funerals. We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we're suspicious of others who don't."
— Chris Rose (One Dead in Attic)

 

[drewyallop]

Thanks Brian, that does it for me. I am coming, maybe by motorcycle. I need a run.

BTW, I agree with you on Zahn. I cringe every time he is on screen. His performance is as nuanced as a 20lb sledge to the knee. This is maybe how the writer/director wants it and his character will "develop"; but now he comes across an an over-the-top New Orleans wannabe.

I like the gumbo metaphor (every think of writing professionally). The story of the expulsion of the Acadians from the Canadian east coast, their flight to Louisiana and subsequent metamorphosis into "Cajuns" is captivating. As is the culture that developed - Zydeco, language and of course jambalaya, crayfish pie, and filet gumbo.

Drew