Market Screening: Some Kind of Refuge

Some Kind of Refuge explores the unique and resilient community of batture dwellers living on the banks of the Mississippi River on the outskirts of New Orleans.

This intimate film offers a glimpse into a life where survival depends on resourcefulness and a deep respect for nature. Living in hand-crafted adaptable homes, the inhabitants are defined by their individuality, spiritual freedom, and a resilient mindset.

Central to the story are next door neighbors Macon and Jules, the oldest residents of the batture. Macon is a historian and author who has chronicled the batture’s history and its struggle against commercial interests seeking to reclaim the land. Jules is a master carpenter and artist who recently lost his wife and regained himself through a closer relationship with God and community. The film captures a dogged commitment to a life outside the constraints of modern society, offering a rare and valuable portrait of a disappearing way of life.