Little Chenier: A Cajun Story (DVD)

Little Chenier is a 2006 film written by Jace Johnson and Bethany Ashton, starring Johnathon Schaech, Frederick Koehler, Tamara Braun, Jeremy Davidson, Clifton Collins Jr., & Chris Mulkey. The peaceful waters of the Louisiana bayou are shattered when two brothers, Beaux (Schaech) and Pemon (Koehler), become the prime suspects after a brutal crime is committed – giving the local sheriff the opportunity to exact his malicious revenge. Will peace ever be restored on the still waters of the bayou? Featuring music by Lil’ Abe Manuel, Jr. & winner of 9 Best Picture Awards. DVD, 100 minutes. Rated R

*Three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Hurricane Rita hit the city of Lake Charles and the various parishes used for filming. Virtually all of the sets and locations used in the film were destroyed, leaving many locals homeless. The film is believed to be the only known footage of the area. Bethany Ashton and her family set up a non-profit organization called “Rita Remembered” to rebuild the communities and help those in need, who were largely left out of the eventual help offered to victims of Katrina. The charity is unique in that Ashton and the fellow creators invite people to correspond directly with them to find out exactly how their contributions were used.