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First, the Recap:
What consumes us? Drives us? Fuels us? It is an all-encompassing question contained within those individual means to describe anything we’ve set our hearts upon with all-out intent to see come about. Whether it is something small or otherwise monumental, the ways in which we choose to pursue the goal will be determined by the sheer level of will, perseverance, and belief in attaining it, much less how much it MEANS to us to see the result we’re seeking. When the circumstances arise that seem to place nothing but obstacles in our path on the way TO achieving it, will we possess that fortitude to still see it happen? For incarcerated wildland’s firefighter Otto (Bobby Soto), his sole intent is to successfully gain his parole approval and finally get back to his daughter Maya (Luciana Elisa Quinonez). But, will imprisonment and the specter of quickly spreading wildfires prevent him from doing so?
Next, my Mind:
The basic, unyielding yearning for reuniting with family runs into the barriers of ongoing internment and raging flames while also illustrating affecting degrees of both confinement of soul and opportunity through this 14-minute short film created by writer/director Robin Takao D’Oench, producers Fiona Hardingham and Dany Sanchez Lugo, plus executive producers Constanza Castro, Domenica Castro, Naomi Funabashi, Travis Ing, Rishi Rajani, and Lena Waithe. A fourth project that manifested through the richly productive platform that is Indeed‘s “Rising Voices” initiative, the film will have its upcoming screening as an official selection for the 20th Anniversary HollyShorts Film Festival running August 8th-18th at the renowned TCL Chinese Theater, Los Angeles, and should do so with what this critic hopes is the requisite impact on viewers, not only for its baseline story in support of acknowledging the importance of California’s prison laborers and their contributions in the arena of firefighting, but also the value they represent and battle for once released and are then attempting to find careers in the field outside of prison.
Also highly centered on the foundational beauty of the love that is a father for his daughter, the narrative follows one particular firefighter whose desperate struggle to just contact his child is being thwarted by an equally frustrating effort to gain early parole while also having to then be engaged in leading a small contingent of fellow smoke eaters when local wildfires are raging out of control. The film’s addressing of prison life, what can somewhat be construed as the agitating bureaucracy of the system in certain cases, the dedication and commitment of men who ideally only wish to be productive members of society again, the brotherhood and bonds amongst the firefighting community, the stigmas that are often unduly carried by those the society only wants to see as criminals and hence limiting their options when free, and just the unavoidable reality of how blatantly dangerous the job these men undertake for the sake of HELPING others is all very evident throughout the film, and these thematic turns deftly plant the intended messages in your head about the plight of these men and their aims to be better for their work and their changed lives.
This is all looking below the surface here, which is very much where so many films’ real potency of purpose shows up, and I love how the story SHOULD be seen for the deeper statements it’s attempting to convey. There IS an undeniable taint placed upon those who are IN prison to begin with, and while it is fully understood that the actions that placed many inmates there were heinous and hard to just overlook, there are those like I felt portrayed here who, yes, made poor choices that got them time, BUT, seem to truly be those who WANT to allow said time to improve themselves, gain their liberation, and be able to return to their lives and families again. Yet, that stain of imprisonment CAN end up causing potential hurdles to jump when looking to gain employment, much less in the field like is depicted here, and that is a shame. These are still human beings, who’ve learned (again, we hope) their lessons needed and want to keep helping themselves and others now if GIVEN the chance. Firefighters put their own lives on the line for OTHERS’ sake every time they run INTO the inferno, and that should be able to continue for them if at all possible, at minimum by having the chances to do what they excel at in the public arena.
How the film chooses to resolve its grander plus more specific narrative objectives is deeply stirring, adding impactful layers of accessibility to everything that moves the heart and spirit in a cathartic manner befitting the events we’ve seen. Soto is yet another actor who so perfectly executes the role he’s been given, infusing a sense of realistic fervor, understated passion, and fully grounded dramatic flair through his performance as Otto, an incarcerated firefighter who only wishes to do two primary things–make a MUCH needed phone call and see his early parole approved. However, when both endeavors prove to be elusive and unsettling for him, he not only doesn’t give up, but also takes on the duties he and his fellow inmates are tasked to do with an energy driven by knowing he can succeed in attaining that which he seeks. But, will the wildfires he finds himself and his team facing cause it all to burn, or become a catalyst for a newly assertive depth of resolve that life WILL move forward as he wishes? Throughout, Soto’s demeanor and delivery just makes you empathize with Otto’s character to excellent and totally understandable magnitudes.
The primary supporting roles arrive first from Joshua Caleb Johnson, Fabian Alomar, Orion Acaba, Carlos Ayala, Sheldon Frett, and Cuong Hoang as Davies, Alomar, O’Ryan, Daniels, Brooks, and Porter, all Otto’s main fellow inmates and firefighting brothers whom all manage to maintain their camaraderie even within the walls of the prison they all inhabit while doing the duty of being additional help in tackling the local wildfires while the departments on the outside arrange to get to the locations to take over. Darin Cooper is Capt. Barnes who may be someone bearing news for Otto he doesn’t want to hear while also being in command of the imprisoned firefighters as well. Reyes is Otto’s daughter Maya whom he has been attempting to connect with again and whom he longs to reunite with. Additional supporting appearances are made by Harry Bainbridge, Román Ibañez Carrillo, Jackson Elley, Isaac Ebersole, Angus Magruder-Briggs, Irie Spivak, Ty Quiamboa, and Michelle Bonebright-Carter.
So, in total, “Fireline” skillfully carries its socially aware messaging with subtle yet evident purpose while intermixing it with an intimate portrait of one man’s striving for freedom, a renewed life, and a longed for reunion morphing into a trial by fire on multiple levels. But, what gives the story its ultimate heart is when it elicits the realization of gaining a fresh appreciation of a child’s love and just wanting a father home, accompanied by him knowing that, while it might be a little longer to come around than desired, he, hope, plus the strength to make it through is wholly alive and, like the blazes being confronted and extinguished, won’t accept turning to ashes.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
