Watch Decade of Fire

Decade of Fire is a 2019 documentary film directed by Vivian Vázquez Irizarry and Gretchen Hildebran. The film primarily focuses on the story of the Bronx, New York City, during the 1970s. The movie outlines how in the 1960s, the Bronx was a working-class neighborhood and a place of pride for its residents. However, during the 1970s, the South Bronx became severely damaged due to multiple factors such as fires, drugs, arson, and neglect from the government.

The documentary presents a historical context in which an urban neighborhood faced a significant crisis. As block after block was destroyed by fires, the people of the Bronx decided that they should take control of their own future. Community activists and young adults who grew up in the South Bronx during the 1970s, such as Carmen Rosado, Hetty Fox, and Robert Foster, are key figures in the movie.

Carmen Rosado, one of the main characters of the film, describes her experience growing up in the South Bronx. The film includes her earliest memories of the community being intact, but as the years went by, it became a warzone where people were afraid to walk down the street. She explains that the 1970s were a period where landlords and politicians neglected the community, leaving people without basic necessities such as heat and water in their homes. The famous graffiti of 'The Bronx is Burning' was a reflection of the city's chaos and the struggles of the residents.

Another central figure of the film is Hetty Fox, who served as a volunteer firefighter for the South Bronx during the 1970s. Hetty takes the viewer into a journey through the life of a volunteer firefighter and their role during the crisis. She explains that the fires began as a way of landlords receiving insurance money, but soon they spread rapidly until there was almost no building left standing. She highlights that the fires were not only a problem of safety but also affected the mental health of the volunteers. Hetty also underlines the racial dimension of the crisis, pointing out that the South Bronx was predominantly Black and Latinx, and these communities were being targeted.

Robert Foster, a former resident of the South Bronx, also shares his experience. He explains that families were forced to live in abandoned buildings, not only as a result of arson but due to homelessness. He highlights that the government not only refused to provide basic necessities but disinvested in the community. The lack of opportunities caused a lot of young people to turn to drugs and violence, and their behavior was used to justify the disinvestment.

Decade of Fire shows how the community came together to revitalize their neighborhood. The documentary features scenes of the residents uniting and efforts made by community organizations to reclaim their space. Those who remained fought for housing justice and went against the City's decision to shut down buildings. Through interviews and archive footage, the viewer also understands that the resilience of the residents and their determination to save their community for future generations played a critical part in their story.

Decade of Fire is an informative and compelling documentary that highlights the past struggles and current issues that plague underprivileged communities. The film prompts viewers to consider the lasting effects of policies and disinvestment in cities across the United States, urging them to learn from the past mistakes and rebuild with empathy and support for the local community. The interviews and footage of the South Bronx during the 1970s, followed by the community activism that took place in the 1980s, provides insight into how the human spirit can persevere during challenging times.

Decade of Fire is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 74.