In the parched hills of central Portugal, fire has a name, a face, and a will of its own. Here, seasoned Portuguese wildfire fighters speak of “him” as an unpredictable adversary – an old rival as elusive and volatile as his accomplice, the wind. Into this world steps a team of Finnish firefighters from the country’s eastern forests, strangers to such infernos.
Through smoke-thick days and ember-lit nights, the Finns are taken under the wing of their Portuguese hosts, learning the rhythms and instincts that no manual can teach. Cameras ride on helmets, in trucks, and deep into the flame’s breath, collapsing the distance between viewer and front line. Between these surges of action are hushed moments of human connection — gestures of care that sustain body and spirit when the fire seems endless.
Lessons in Fire is an immersive journey into a brotherhood and sisterhood without borders – a story of mentorship, humility, and trust forged in the heat of a changing climate. Director John Webster weaves action and intimacy into a vivid portrait of courage in the Anthropocene, where to fight fire is also to listen to those who have long danced with it.
CINEMA IN DEBATE
In addition to the films competing in the different competitive sections, CineEco also programs works that complement the discussion around pressing environmental issues, such as the debate sessions attended by filmmakers and other guests from the field. This year, there are four documentaries that propose to re-dimension the idea of landscape, be it wilderness, water and energy or culture.