Mr. Okra Trailer (2009)

Trailer for the documentary Mr. Okra.

Arthur J. Robinson a.k.a. “Mr. Okra,” is a simple man in a complicated world. In the age of fast food, strip malls, and mega-markets, Mr. Okra stands as a stark contrast to the high technology and shiny produce markets of the modern world. His is a different world. His is a world steeped in tradition, complicated by its diversity, but simple in its truth. His world is New Orleans. In a city known for its music and food…and its characters, Mr. Okra travels the back streets of the Bywater, Tremé and 9th ward, selling his vegetables from his iconic truck…one okra at a time. His unique promotion has made him a fixture in New Orleans and an integral part of the fabric of this community.

Beyond the clichés of Bourbon Street, amid the decadence and decay of one of America’s most unique cities, Mr. Okra is a character from another time. His is an analog world, in a digital age.

This is an intimate look at one of New Orleans’ most colorful characters, one of the characters that makes New Orleans such a special place… Mr. Okra is a glimpse into the soul of an American city.