Brimstone & Glory

A beautiful shot documentary capturing the heart and soul of a community that revolves around the amazing pyrotechnic festival in Tultepec, Mexico. Such a colourful country, Mexico can teach us a lot about the joy of living and Brimstone & Glory shows us there is no life without risk.

"Brimstong & Glory" is an unusual documentary because there isn't a lot of narration or dialog. Mostly, it's like being a guest at the most insane fireworks celebration in the world in the town of Tultepec in Oaxaca, Mexico (in the far south). Here, folks throw all caution aside and instead of shooting fireworks HIGH into the air, they shoot them just about everything...in the air, of course, but also pretty much everywhere. And, in a weird show of machismo or faith, the folks (mostly the men) dance about in the midst of this flaming chaos. Yes, many are burned or severely injured...which makes me glad we can see this on film instead of actually being there! Because of the danger and because it's a very pretty film to watch, I do recommend you see it...but there really isn't much to it...just a little over an hour of folks risking life and limb!

Director Vikto Jakovleski saw some amazing photos of town (Tultepec in Oaxaca, Mexico) where fireworks and fireworks display are the heart of the community. While raving at party, he realized rave party dancing and dancing among fireworks are the same, and thus "Brimstone & Glory" was born. Over several days, as the community whose life blood across generations has been to build and create fireworks, he documents and follows a young boy and his family, friends and neighbors as they prepare for an annual religious fireworks celebration that includes two nights of continuous fireworks; one where towers of fireworks are lit in competition, and another where large bull structures are built, covered with fireworks, then lit and pushed through the town square as residents dance and run among the very dangerous fireworks display. Witnessing a town that is so dependent on fireworks manufacturing is interesting. Obserivng residents risk their lives as they climb and build the very tall fireworks towers is intriguing (thanks to Go-Pro camera work), but watching residents and spectators running for cover and willingly dancing while engulfed in shooting fireworks is beyond belief. Yes, folks get burned and some die (not on camera), but somehow it's all done in the name of religion - go figure! With little dialogue, and camera work that is initially too close and too shaky to the action to actually witness some of the fireworks display, there really isn't a story here and thus no good reason to catch this film. If anything, this film diffidently contradicts anything your parents said about not play with fireworks. This film was screened at the PSIFF #PSIFF