TIFF 2021: Burning
tiff 2021While climate change and forces of extreme weather are relevant no matter what mass of land someone calls home, it often is easy to focus only on what is local to oneself. Often the issues and dynamics plaguing communities on the other side of the globe are easy to be ignored and overlooked. Documentary cinema offers a rare window into these problems, allowing the audience to embrace these issues in a captivating and powerful manner. Screening as part of the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, Eva Orner's newest documentary feature Burning attempts to do just this. Exploring the political failure of Australia to prepare for climate change while also showing the destructive consequences of their inaction, Burning might be a specifically Australian story but holds real power for those across the globe.
Clearly understanding that vast portions of the audience will not be familiar or understanding of Australia's political makeup and history, Burning wisely takes the time within its 86-minute runtime to introduce audiences to these concepts before it goes into its more important takeaways. From the country’s history of using fossil fuels to simply explaining the geographical landscape of the area, Burning is completely accessible for audiences anywhere on earth. While the film will still refer to Australia as "us" and clearly holds the most relevance when it comes to a call to action for those living in the country, the concepts are as mentioned much larger and more universal.
Burning is ultimately a tale of warning. It is an example of an inadequate government that downplayed science for financial gain and is paying the consequences. An epidemic not just in Australia but globally. Nearly every country is battling with having to take true action against fossil fuels and climate change, with the reactions becoming more and more tangible each year. From worsening storms to, in the case of Burning, unstoppable bushfires, climate change is costing more money and human lives than ever before, making the content of Burning feel all the more important and needed.
With that said, the one major problem with the film as a viewing experience is how it can struggle to evolve the conversation. While the specific ties to the politics is an added bonus, much of what is presented within Burning has been expressed and shared before in arguably more powerful packages. Even the ground footage of the fires is no match for the footage seen in the stunning 2020 documentary Rebuilding Paradise. While for those introducing themselves to the topic this problem will fail to exist, for those who have already embraced the subject it will feel unavoidable in the worst of ways.
Burning is a fine introduction to the topic of the government's failure to act on climate change, with enough conviction and personality to feel both engaging and captivating. While it is hard to say that anyone who has seen documentaries on the topic will get much from this feature other than the specifics of what is happening within Australia, audiences who haven't really explored the topic could use this film as a great introduction. The filmmaking is solid and the content is important, leading to a film that succeeds in everything it wants to in a confident fashion.
