FILM REVIEW ON THE SHORT FILM LIGHT MY FIRE.

 

Light My Fire is an interesting short film that leaves a strong emotional impact. It is only about nine minutes long, but it tells a serious and intense story. From the very beginning, the film pulls you in with loud sounds like fireworks and screeching tires. These sounds set the mood and make you feel tense right away. The film is about a father, Miles, who wants to protect his daughter from her abusive boyfriend, Clark. What starts as a simple rescue turns into a violent confrontation. 

The film shows that anger and violence can take control very fast, especially when someone is trying to protect a loved one. But after the fight, everything becomes quiet. We see that Miles is good at being angry, but he doesn’t know how to comfort his daughter. The main idea of the film is that getting angry is easy, but showing care and love is much harder. Instead of ending with something big or exciting, the film ends with a quiet and uncomfortable moment between the father and daughter, which makes it feel more real. 

The characters in the film seem real and easy to believe. Miles is a loving father, but he shows his care through anger and rough actions. Clark is angry and dangerous, but in the end, he seems weak. The actors show strong emotions without talking a lot. Their faces, movements, and actions help tell the story more than their words. The most emotional part is after the fight, when Miles sits next to his daughter but doesn’t know how to comfort her.

Visually, the film is shot in a realistic way. The use of lighting and camera angles adds to the tension. The Fourth of July setting, with loud fireworks and bright flashes, fits the theme perfectly. It reminds us that even on a day meant for celebration, pain and anger can take over. The film begins and ends with the sound of fireworks, which ties the story together and gives it a full-circle feeling.

The sound in the film works really well. There is no sad music or dramatic background sounds. Instead, you hear real sounds like the street, the fight, and the fireworks, which make the film feel more natural and powerful. The quiet moment at the end also says a lot without using any words.

In conclusion, Light My Fire is a strong and emotional film that shows how hard it can be to care for someone after something painful has happened. Even though the film is short, it tells a complete story using strong images and great acting. One of the best things about it is how it talks about serious issues like unhealthy masculinity and emotional distance in a short time. A small weakness is that it may feel a bit cold or sad, but that also makes it feel real. I would recommend this film to people who like emotional and deep stories. It stays with you and makes you think about what real love and strength truly mean.

https://youtu.be/b79R839YfZg?si=6qcUMNKotNCFYGfl

Romaine Dodoo

BFATP28002