Scenes from a village 35 - Fire in the village (HD)

[brajci]

Hello, I'm Marko from this film, I would like to clarify one thing, what we have said that I was a firefighter, but 14 years does not mean that so long I extinguis fire,it means that we are members of society for so many years, be a member society including cleaning work around the fire station,I am going to the fire some six years,but gradually,we are assistants on the vehicle until we reaches 18,then we can go extinguishing fire, the work is voluntary and at your own risk,.. .thank you

[andrewnorris2]

@brajci Hej Marko, I think I said somewhere in a comment that being a member of the DVD was also like being in a club, like the scouts. I am not sure that anyone actually thinks that such young boys do go to extinguish fires but thanks for the clarification anyway. I saw that the DVD was in Generalski a couple of weeks ago, such a pity. Vidimo se.

[eaglecrowowl]

Whenever I watch one of your films I am transported to an entirely different place than were I live. I get to take a small trip. You have such a marvelous eye for detail and you frame your subject with respect. Thought the subject is of real loss, I am glad of having spent this time here. Can you tell me what country this is in? I especially liked the detail of the pumpkins growing unexpectedly. It was an antidote to the loss of history, life marches forward.

[andrewnorris2]

@eaglecrowowl Thank you, Caren. The country is Croatia. All of these films, 36 so far published, are made in our village, Bukovlje, and all of the characters live here. Yes, the pumpkin seeds was a nice touch. Actually, Goran made some comment about life going on but I left this out, rather let the scene speak for itself. You know, it is a kind of privilage that our neighbours are willing to let me film them and their stories, and then for me to share them with you.

[eaglecrowowl]

@eaglecrowowl I knew it was Croatia and yet I just couldn't remember. Thank you for telling me. I just looked at your channel page and see the information is clearly right there! Agh. It is remarkable the access you have and also the respect you bring to your subject. Also want to say I love the beginning shots in this video, the dried earth, the clouds, the waving grasses. Very beautiful.

[andrewnorris2]

@eaglecrowowl The field with the waving grass is just below us. This field was cultivated until this year. I miss not seeing someone with a hoe weeding between the rows of veg, sign of the times. People get old others move away. The next 2 films will look at migration away from our village over the last 120 years, some of whom have managed to find their way back. I hope you'll watch in due course.

[Ilovethewantedxxxx]

@eaglecrowowl Croatia, I know him

[Idlinfarm]

Fine film.  Very interesting.

[andrewnorris2]

@Idlinfarm Thanks, Ida

[MargaretAMG]

Very moving. The villagers treasure their old homes and barns, like members of the family. Very emotional.

[andrewnorris2]

@MargaretAMG Thanks, Margaret, when people build their own homes it is not surprising they become very attached to them. Thanks for your comments

[Poemsapennyeach]

Marvellous Andrew...beautifully filmed..

[XaveJamesGrey]

Wow, the firemen began their careers so young. How nerve wracking it must have been to battle a fire with the uncertainty that explosives may have been stored within the structure! Watching Goran survey the damage and recount the house's history makes the loss transcend the mere monetary value of property. Seeing the ruins and hearing him describe the room that had been home to his mother and two uncle's growing up was heartbreaking. You tell the story very sensitively, Andrew.

[andrewnorris2]

@XaveJamesGrey You see how dangerous life in the sleepy village can be! Good to see you here.

[HerAeolianHarp]

I really like the way you set this up with a blend of lyrical imagery and suspense before delving into the narrative. Now, I did a double take with Marko: he is but 22 and has been a fireman for 14 years? These guys grew up made of some tough stuff then. Wow. I'm sorry to hear about the burning house, though, and the loss of family memories and their visual referents: a plate, a barrel of wine, the old pear tree. I hope your neighbors will recover from their loss. Those firemen are gold. - E

[andrewnorris2]

@HerAeolianHarp Thanks for this. Yes they do start young. If you look closely at the final photograph the boys crouching at the end of the front row can't be more that 12 or 13. But, the fire service is also like a youth club and so has a really important function in the village for a number of reasons. Gold is what they are.

[AuntieN2]

Andre, Thank you for your remarks and invitation to subscribe to both of your channels. I believe I did subscribe to BOTH of your channels. I just love your videos. They are visually perfect as well as give me the true pictures of what my Grandmother described of her memories (She was only 3yrs old when she left her homeland.) I am not sure of the area my grandparents were from or how close it is to your Croatian home. It was divided so many times from wars. The papers have Galicia, Austria

[andrewnorris2]

@AuntieN2 Kind of you to sub both channels. Have you looked into your family history? You might find some interesting surprises. Films 37 and 38, to be published in a few months, both look at the issue of migration from our village to America, perhaps they will inspire you.

[violetparme]

As one watches, one can gradually feel the past, almost tangible, almost visible rising up from the ruins. Beautifully done ; so touching. Can the shooting be neutral ?!

[andrewnorris2]

@violetparme It certainly is a tangible past but one feels it slipping through one's fingers nevertheless. I think the shooting can be neutral, it is the viewer who brings the emotions. I did not want to play on that, since the scene is enough to provoke an emotional response, hence the minimal music which is somewhat upbeat at the end. It was great to see you here, thanks for taking the time.

[piratxy]

Odlično snimljeno i ukomponirano.

[ronpolla]

A life's work gone up in smoke in one hour....

[andrewnorris2]

@ronpolla Several lifetime's work! One is still too stunned to feel despair yet.

[Caspar33]

A gripping, expertly put together piece of video journalism. The introductory narrative on the heat and its effects sets up the disaster perfectly. So there was no explosive material then? What I admire is the objective eye: rationality pervading the whole treatment from operational difficulties, the terrifying aspects to the eerie pumpkin seedlings. The owner seemed remarkably unemotional . Was the cost then from those other fire-crews, some coming a distance of 250 kms at least? And who pays?

[piratxy]

@Caspar33

Fire-crews was farthest from Karlovac.About 20 km away.No, there were no explosives, fortunately.

If someone is to blame for the fire, he pays.

[andrewnorris2]

@Caspar33 Thanks, Fred, the opportunity to film this was, of course, unexpected. I wanted this film to be as objective as possible, the emotions are in the scene itself rather than the way it was filmed, and this includes all the interviews especially the owner. It was a tremendous challenge for the local fireservice, who's average age must be around 22, not forgetting that they are firemen entirely voluntarily. Thanks for watching.

[brychar66]

Split-screen film too - very professional Andrew.

[ourDC888]

A piece of history is lost because of the fire, a great loss for the whole village because they don't build houses like that anymore. A real tragedy, witnessed by the whole village. I feel like sending my condolences to all the people that live in the village, and to all the people with happy memories about the house and the barn, especially to the owner of the house, whose family lived there once. And last, but not least: thank you Andrew for this beautiful upload. They must be proud of you!

[andrewnorris2]

@ourDC888 Thanks for your generous comment. It is a great loss that is felt by everyone. I am not sure they are proud of me but I think everyone is getting used to seeing me wandering around with my camera!

[Junemori]

Those guys are heroes

[andrewnorris2]

@Junemori Yes, they really are and it is all voluntary!

[tinySpectacle]

The path of this story, from the details of the firefighters' arrival to the owner's sad walk through his burned home, is expertly filmed and told. I especially liked the assessment of what this loss meant to the whole village--that the whole village suffers this loss personally. Thanks for another great film.

[andrewnorris2]

@tinySpectacle Thanks, Lo, I tried to make this film as dispassionate as possible but, you are right, everyone feels this loss personally.