Australia’s history has had its share of natural disasters, the most recent and perhaps one of the most frightening was the bushfires that turned our skies red and filled the air with ash during the summer of 2019/2020. Yet the communities most terribly affected by this catastrophic event have been somewhat forgotten in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Black Summer’ gives a voice to a handful of those who fought and survived the blaze that threatened to take everything from them, as well as the volunteers from FIREAID who helped them rebuild.
Directed by Hagyung Koo, ‘Black Summer’ invites the audience to listen to the stories of regular people who lived through an extraordinary event, witnessing first-hand footage of the fires raging on the borders of their property as the residents fight to keep their homes safe. We watch as the flames engulf the bush while the native animals flee for safety. The devastating reality made it seem as if Hell itself had erupted to the surface.
Each perspective shares a common message; Climate change is a real phenomenon that is impacting the earth every day and human intervention has only managed to speed up the process. If we don’t fight for the earth, the earth can no longer defend us from the elements.
“We need radical changes, not changes that bring about bloodshed or revolution, just subtle changes in our lives.”
– Jarrod Ruch, Goongerah (VIC)
TFMJ 