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Deep Dive: Cooked: Survival by Zip Code (2019)

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Cooked: Survival by Zip Code
Cooked: Survival by Zip Code is a documentary directed and produced by Judith Helfand, focusing on the 1995 Chicago heat wave that led to the deaths of 739 individuals, primarily from poor and disadvantaged communities. The film uses this tragic event to discuss the systemic issues faced by these communities and argues that they should be viewed as disasters in their own right. The film had its world premiere at DOC NYC on November 11, 2018, and was released through video on demand on August 28, 2019. It later aired on Independent Lens on February 3, 2020. The documentary reframes the conversation around disaster response and the treatment of marginalized populations, emphasizing the need for a more equitable approach to disaster management.

Why Watch

  • •Find out how the 1995 heat wave affected Chicago's poor.
  • •See the impact of systemic inequality on disaster response.
  • •Meet the communities most affected by natural disasters.

Did You Know

•739 people died during the 1995 Chicago heat wave.
•The film premiered at DOC NYC on November 11, 2018.
•It was released on video on demand on August 28, 2019.
•The documentary was broadcast on Independent Lens on February 3, 2020.

Perfect For

Urban studiesClimate justicePublic health