When Eveyrthing Burns (Tribeca Film Festival 2024) Review

By Justin D Williams

Isabel is ostracized by the fire brigade she belongs to for attacking a real estate development implicated in forest fires. Determined to forge ahead on her own, she faces her loneliness and frustration in an encounter that will question the essence of her fight. The film is a fiction based on a real conflict: intentional wildfires fires happening in protected lands of Argentina for development purposes are destroying the native forest.

Although the characters and situations are fiction, they are based on a context that is currently affecting not only the hills of Cordoba, Argentina, where the story takes place, but also other areas of the country. The script and the shoot was made with the collaboration and participation of people that live in the area and that work fighting those fires.

Belu Poncio direction is both sensitive and unflinching. The film’s pacing effectively mirrors Isabel’s emotional state, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in her experience. Pancio's ability to convey Isabel's isolation through visual storytelling is remarkable. The cinematography, marked by stark contrasts between the beauty of the forest and the devastation of the fires, serves as a powerful metaphor for Isabel's internal conflict.

The encounter that serves as the film's climax is a masterful narrative device. It challenges Isabel—and the audience—to reflect on the essence of her fight. This confrontation is not only a turning point for Isabel but also a thought-provoking moment for viewers, urging them to consider the broader implications of her actions and the true cost of her crusade.

"When Everything Burns" is not just a story about activism; it is a profound exploration of personal conviction and the sacrifices that come with it. Belu Poncio has crafted a film that resonates on multiple levels, making it a standout at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.