Afire Review: An Intimate New Drama Set Against a Backdrop of Wildfires

Wildfires are a serious threat across the world. U.S. states like Oregon and California seem perpetually threatened. And now, a new German-language film from acclaimed writer-director Christian Petzold is based around a growing forest fire out near the Baltic Sea. But this isn't your typical natural disaster movie. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Berlinale, Afire is — above all else — a love story. How refreshing that it doesn't fall into the expected Hollywood norms/clichés of heroism, corny speeches and big-budget action sequences, given the threats of engulfing flames. Here's our take on the more realistic depiction of society's response.

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