Documentary is proud to debut an exclusive clip from Alexandra Kern’s short documentary Some Kind of Refuge, which is set to premiere later this week at Sundance. A lyrical, immersive film set along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Some Kind of Refuge follows a small, unconventional community that lives in the unpredictable landscape of the battures, which are narrow strips of land between river and levee.
While grounded in the perspectives of its two longest-residing inhabitants, Jules Cote and Macon Fry, the film uses the landscape as a character, creating an atmospheric portrait of their corner of the world. These men, who live in handmade, water-adaptive homes, have forged a way of life rooted in independence, as well as a simpatico relationship with their rapidly changing and increasingly unpredictable surroundings. The featured clip captures Jules and Macon reflecting on their life experiences, discussing both the challenges and the sense of freedom that comes with living on the battures. Kern describes the events of the clip in this way:
“In the making of this film, I was endlessly inspired by the wisdom of the Batture residents—wisdom earned through living in an environment where you truly have to meet yourself to survive. This clip appears near the end of the film and features our two main characters, Jules Cote and Macon Fry, the longest living residents of the Batture. Jules speaks on modern humanity’s disharmony with nature, while Macon expounds on a life lived in service of self-discovery, no matter the cost. These are people searching for tranquility at the edge of civilization during our uncertain times. We hope the film serves as a living memory, preserving a vital philosophy before it vanishes.”
Some Kind of Refuge is produced by Kern and Colin Cadarette, and backed by an accomplished slate of award-winning executive producers. It is shot by Kern’s frequent collaborator, Eric Vera, who worked with her on Wild Magnolias (2023). The film is also edited by Academy Award–nominee Anne Alvergue (The Martha Mitchell Effect and Love, Gilda) and Victor Artesona (Eyes on the Prize III ). You can watch the clip below.
