Voices of Desire
Hear it from the people who lived it.
More than sixty residents and former residents sat down with Leonard Smith III between 2008 and the film’s release. These clips come from that archive.
Interview clips
Nine stories from the archive
Select a story to play it. Each clip is a few minutes from a longer interview.
Private screening
After the screening: a panel of neighbors
Lenett Films Production and LS3 Studios presented a private screening at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center in New Orleans, followed by a panel discussion.
“I never thought that there was anything negative about growing up in the Ninth Ward. I just was excited to see my mother and to hear her say things that we all laughed at.”
“I was well pleased with, first of all, the quality of the documentary and the putting together. It was really good. I just wish it could be shown more and in more places.”
“I’m very, very happy to have been a part of this, and I just want to give a big shout out to Leonard for putting this together.”
Share your story
How did you spend your summers in “A Place Called Desire”?
Did you grow up in Desire, Gordon Plaza or the Upper 9th Ward? The archive is still growing. Send a memory, a photograph or a name we should know.
Bring Desire to your community