Within the opening seconds of Decade of Fire, we are told: ‘We did not burn the South Bronx. In fact, we were the ones who saved it.’ This singular statement tells us exactly what kind of documentary we are about to see, laying the foundations for what is essentially a passionate personal account from somebody who lived through the fires that savaged the area in the 1970s.
Vivian Vazquez has collaborated with fellow filmmaker Gretchen Hildebran to tell her story, and it is this personal account that gives the film the layers it needs to have a genuine impact on the audience. The wide array of archive footage is impressive to say the very least, telling the story purely visually and offering intimate accounts of the incidents at the time, but it could have ran the risk of feeling no more than the sum of its parts were it not for the story Vazquez tells and the way in which she tells it. Her voice-over feels very real, personal and emotive, giving new meaning to the scenes we are shown. This alone turns Decade of Fire into more of a story, with a strong structure and an effect that builds.
However, while Vazquez’s personal touch is the film’s greatest strength, it may also be its bigger flaw. When a documentary is told from this perspective, it’s difficult as a viewer to shake off the clearly biased standpoint coming from the filmmakers. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with this per se, but it does bring to question the various things we may hear throughout. Most of what we are told is presented alongside accompanying footage, but when we reach the final act we are told things in a very matter-of-fact manner without too much to seal the deal. As the film reaches its conclusion, it feels less ‘history from a personal perspective’ than it does a ‘professional edited set of views’, which is where the film can begin to create problems for itself.
That being said, these issues are few and far between. This film is interesting throughout and Vazquez adds far more to the film than she takes away. The final act, while problematic, is also unquestionably the most emotive aspect of the feature, as the tragic events we have been shown build to a genuinely inspiring conclusion, leaving us with hope for the future in spite of the many things we are warned of. We are told that we as people can overcome these dangers together, and there is something surprisingly hopeful and proud in Vazquez’s voice. After all, it’s the people who rebuilt their community, in spite of a society blaming them for the failings of others.
DECADE OF FIRE theatrical trailer from Gretchen Hildebran on Vimeo.
News reported that the people of the Bronx simply did not care about their homes enough, and Decade of Fire asserts itself as a correction to that false ideal. We are on the ground, amongst the community, witnessing their suffering and their efforts to overcome it. It’s a personal and intimate account of an incident that really needed it, and while Vasquez’s bias can bring some elements into doubt, it’s also precisely what makes the film so successful and valuable as a historical artefact.
The film peaks in these up-close moments, that bring us to the heart of the issue and the people involved, as opposed to its more preachy aspects. Decade of Fire does not need to preach. What we are shown, along with Vasquez’s terrific voice-over, is more than enough to ensure the film lingers long in our memory once finished. It is a film not without flaws, but one that towers over them to remain vital viewing.
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