On Sunday night, Denis and I were in the city to attend the Tribeca Film Festival premeire of the documentary Burn. Burn tells the story of a firehouse in Detroit, a city where the population is dwindling drastically and poverty abounds. There are thousands of vacant buildings left behind by former auto workers and others who had to move elsewhere to look for jobs. Their abandoned homes are either vacant or are squalid shelters for homeless people and drug addicts. Every day, the firefighters featured in the film, put out up to a dozen fires, sometimes more.
I know this sounds like a depressing movie and there are some very sad parts, but I have seen it twice now, and I have to say that it is one of the most inspiring documentaries I have ever seen. The firefighters in Detroit are paid so little by the beleaguered city that all of the men must work second jobs as roofers, builders, barbers, etc, so that they can support their families. Their trucks and their gear are falling apart. The city has no budget for new equipment, though the city is literally burning down. So what makes this movie uplifting? The men. These firefighters love their jobs, they love their families and they love the city of Detroit. You will love them too, after you see this film, which I hope you will be able to see soon. Right now it’s on the film festival circuit — it’s going to the Boston Film Festival this weekend, I believe, so if you live in Boston, try to catch it there.
After the screening in New York, I got to meet some of the firefighters and I felt like I was meeting my favorite movie stars. Real heroes that live and breathe, have great senses of humor and GORGEOUS wives. I had a long chat with one of the wives named Diane and another whose name I can’t recall because I never remember anybody’s name anymore, but they were both great fun and so proud of their husbands, as they should be.
I lived in Midland, Michigan when I was a girl and it has made me sad to learn about what has happened to the city that we used to visit on field trips to watch the vast and bustling auto assembly lines at the General Motors plant. In the film, somebody mentions that what has happened to Detroit is as devastating and destructive as what happened to New Orleans after Katrina, but the decay has been more drawn-out and the media has paid less attention. Like I said, there were some very sad things that happened in the film – an older firefighter suffers a tragic loss just as he is preparing to retire, a young firefighter is gravely injured and a child loses her life because of the lack of proper fire equipment. In fact, I am a little teary just typing these words. But the men and women in this film have such a deep love and sense of commitment to their community that they gave me great hope for not only the city of Detroit, but also this country.
Here’s a little clip of Denis talking about the film on CBS News. Denis and his company, Apostle, co-produced the film. They stepped in and helped the filmmakers get the funding they needed to finish making the film. I know that several of you donated after I blogged about the film last year and you should definitely see the film, because the filmmakers, Tom Putnam and Brenna Sanchez chose to include, in the credits, the names of every single person who gave money to help make this film. It’s a long beautiful scrolling list that will make you smile through your tears.
I hope Tom and Brenna win many awards for this film. They certainly deserve it.
I wish I would have seen this on the Tribeca Film Festival schedule when we were in New York this past weekend! I hope the film will find its way to the Midwest.
Its just gone on my list of films to see. Thanks for the heads up.
On a lighter note, Denis is so funny in the beginning, always makes me laugh, must have been on the Nyquil!lol
This is such a sad situation in Detroit. These firefighters, as all, are true HEREOS! Not to diminish our US soldiers, but we have heroes right here fighting battles everyday. I hope this movie opens the eyes to the people who have no clue what is going on in Detroit, and what ALL firefighters deal with. I share this stuff all the time on facebook and the only one person that “likes” or “comments” is someone who lives in NYC. I am a retired EMT after 10 years and still follow everything FF related. I am so thankful for someone like Denis and all involved who are bringing these true heroes to the big screen!! I hope I get to see it in Central PA. To me it is the BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR! Forget Hollywood! So glad you got to meet some of the FF in the movie, I too would view them as fav movie stars.
I recently read 3000 degrees where Denis’s cousin died in the warehouse fire. It was chilling to hear the men calling for help with empty air tanks. I have read my entire life and only 2 books have brought tears to my eyes that one and Last Man Down. I am so thankful Denis and all those involved in bringing these stories alive, and raising money for such an important cause.
It was funny to hear Denis mention Steve Busemi in the vid, although I did know he was a ff. Denis and Steve are my 2 all time favorite people. Steve was in my hometown last year filming for Who do you think you are after he found out his great great grandfather was from here. Unfortunatley, I didn’t see him in town. His family story of that man is quite amusing!
Have a great day!
I’m so happy this film found the funding it needed to get finished and it’s such good new that it’s on the film circuit! Hopefully it will play near San Francisco as it’s traction builds. Congratulations to Denis and gang.
absolutely awesome. Being from the burbs of Detroit, I can’t wait to watch this film.
Awesome clip–again–I’d seen it before. Just as funny/upsetting the second time around.
Good luck to BURN on the festival circuit and everywhere. Poor Detroit. That’s a hideous problem.
This looks like quite a film. Very good and I hope it comes out to Los Angeles and Vegas. We need to see something like this. Amazing footage and such a shame. I felt really bad hearing that fire fighters don’t strike for new equipment. To save people of all things because it causes issues for them, as in no jobs. This is so angering. The politicians need to open their eyes and realize the amount of fires these people are apparently dealing with. It was great to see Denis. He’s hilarious. Funny and always entertaining advising everyone about what he thought he was doing wrong.. I miss the show so much!! Anyway, I hope the film is of huge success because I will definitely see it. I was caught immediately by that small amount of footage and will go to the website about donations. This means something to me and it meant a great deal to hear that they go in there knowing there may be 1 or 2 squatters, homeless, unfortunate circumstances and so forth and these guys are dealing with old equipment. I just don’t understand how the Mayor can even look at himself in the mirror and not take notice. Thanks for bringing this attention to everyone. This information was great..
Ann, I SO hope to see this film!(And it’s already my Best Doc bet for this year’s Academy Awards…). Amazing project, amazing people.
I was born and raised in the Detroit area and my husband and I both worked many years in the city. It’s heartbreaking to see what’s become of Detroit but I’m still proud to call it my hometown. Thank you to Denis for shining a light on the brave young men who love and protect Detroit. Can’t wait to see the film.
Thank you, Ann, for posting this clip. Firefighters are the unsung heroes of our country, I will definitely see the documentary if it comes to Connecticut. The interviewers mentioned a website where we can go to make donations, could you post it, please?
Can’t wait; I do hope this film comes to Texas!
This is why Detroit is so messed up. Blame the Liberals!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hhJ_49leBw
Highly suggest watching the documentary on the downfall of Detroit I posted. Not sure if it will be edited out but you can find it on Steven Crowder’s website. It is extremely sad, and where our country is headed if people don’t wake up.