THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - The Reel Justice Film Series returns to California Lutheran University this fall with movies on Hurricane Katrina heroism and Japanese American soldiers of World War II.

“Trouble the Water” will be shown at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25. “442 – Live with Honor Die with Dignity” will screen at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16. Both events will take place in Lundring Events Center.

In “Trouble the Water,” filmmakers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal recount a surprising tale of heroism amid tragedy in New Orleans, where a wannabe rapper and her husband brave the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina to rescue their neighbors. It’s a redemptive tale of two self-described street hustlers who become heroes, two unforgettable people who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning. Featuring live video diary footage from the couple, the documentary is both a poignant portrait of a family’s will to survive and a startling portrayal of Katrina’s devastating power. Nominated for an Academy Award for best feature documentary and winner of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and 2009 Gotham Independent Film Award, “Trouble the Water” takes the viewer inside Hurricane Katrina in a way never before seen on screen.

“442 - Live with Honor Die with Dignity" is the second installment of a Japanese American trilogy that began with “Toyo’s Camera: Japanese American History during WW2.” Soldiers of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, composed mainly of Japanese Americans, fought not only the enemy but also prejudice, facing severe racial discrimination in their homeland. However, the 442nd became one of the most decorated regiments for its size and length of service in the history of the United States military.

The 442nd was in an ironic predicament, fighting for a country that had branded them as enemies. But these young men volunteered to fight and prove their loyalty as patriotic Americans. In the portrayal of the soldiers’ agonizing battles, the film addresses the meaning of being Japanese and loving one’s country. Junichi Suzuki directed the film and Grammy and Golden Globe winner Kitaro composed the music score.

CLU’s Center for Equality and Justice is sponsoring the free showings.

Lundring Events Center is located in Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is on the north side of Olsen Road near Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks.

For more information, call Greg Freeland at (805) 493-3477.