Brimstone and Glory
Viktor Jakovleski
USA I Mexico – 67 MIN
Spanish w/ English subtitles

 

Synopsis

Tultepec is what you might call an “explosive” Mexican city—over two-thirds of its residents manufacture fireworks. Each year, the town’s inhabitants cautiously begin the dangerous work of crafting handmade fireworks for the annual National Pyrotechnic Festival that attracts thousands of spectators. Neighbourhoods contribute by constructing house-sized papier mâché bulls that when set ablaze are wheeled wildly through the crowds. With droves of ambulances and paramedics standing by, people come from all over, believing that dancing and revelling treacherously close to the flaming bulls and fireworks will bless them and their communities for the year to come. Director Viktor Jakovleski uses GoPros and a flying drone that soar high above, abstracting and widening the vista of the festival and taking viewers on a magical cinematic journey through the sparks and flames that ignite the night skies.

About the Director

Viktor Jakovleski, born in West Berlin in 1983, attended the German Film and Television Academy, spent time as a Hollywood personal assistant and driver, and worked with Benh Zeitlin as a co-producer and assistant director on the short film GLORY AT SEA (2008). He is a producer of LENALOVE, which opened in 2016. His documentary feature BRIMSTONE & GLORY (2017) was produced with the Court 13 collective

The Band

Lemon Bucket Orkestra

Lemon Bucket Orkestra is an underground favourite; once you hear them, you’ll be a fan for life. This Toronto-based band fuses traditional Serbian, Ukrainian and Turkish folk sounds with a modern musical flare. You’ll be guaranteed to be up dancing.