Serial | Jun Makiguchi's Cinema Full Life: Part 21, 'Only the Brave'
Serial | Jun Makiguchi's Cinema Full Life
Part 21: This World Is Not Hopeless After All.
A Story of All the Nameless Heroes Who Make Us Believe So
Only the Brave
It is difficult to tell tragic events through film. Without distorting the truth, without exaggeration— The film "Only the Brave" is likely one of the few works that have succeeded in this. It is based on a massive wildfire that occurred in Arizona, USA, in 2013. The story features 20 members of the elite "Hotshots" unit who confront the raging flames. They are undoubtedly real-life heroes. The story they weave leads even those accustomed to Hollywood formulas to a heart-wrenching ending. It's a profound impact that fiction could never achieve. At its conclusion, you will arrive at a slightly new world, different from the everyday life you have casually lived.
Text by MAKIGUCHI June
A Film That Makes You Grateful for the Nameless Heroes of the World
The "heroes" of the real world are not superheroes who wear capes and fly through the sky. They are people who live among us. The men featured in "Only the Brave" also appear to be ordinary people at first glance.
The Prescott, Arizona, city fire department had achieved many successes thanks to Commander Marsh's excellent judgment and leadership, and the team's cohesion.
However, the authority on the ground belonged to the elite unit known as the "Hotshots," recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Even when Marsh's team proposed strategies, they were dismissed with comments like, "Don't you city-level firefighters butt in."
One day, they had a chance to undergo certification at a fire scene, but Marsh got into a heated argument with the examiner over the firefighting method. Marsh, determined to minimize damage, wouldn't back down and successfully contained the fire. His deputy's words, "Even if the certification fails, we saved the forest," made the team members proud.
Then, a few days later. The examiner informed them of their promotion to "Hotshots," the first for a city fire department. Along with the words, "The boss is cheeky, but you are the best firefighters."
The team members shared their joy with their families. But for them, the largest wildfire in American history, considered the most terrifying, awaited them—
Wildfires, which are relentless and disregard human convenience or emotions, burn everything to ashes. This film recreates their power and destructive force with incredible realism, making us realize anew how arduous the firefighters' mission is. Even just watching it on screen, the flames before us are so terrifying that our bodies involuntarily tense up.
The "Hotshots" who confront such a fearsome entity are by no means elites. The film delves into their humanity and relationships with each other, revealing them to be ordinary men, just like anyone else.
In fact, they are often rough characters who have problems in their daily lives or whose pranks go a bit too far. When they see each other, jokes fly, they argue, and they exchange sharp remarks.
But once they embrace their mission, they transform into brave heroes. Determined to protect the people they love and the town they cherish, they charge into the flames, risking their lives.
It truly makes one reflect on how human nature is revealed in times of crisis.
Even if they fool around most of the time, they are surprisingly dependable when it counts. This contrast in the firefighters' personalities makes their heroism stand out even more. There is no greater heroism than standing up for someone else, even when your own life is at risk.
The suspenseful development in the final 30 minutes, which sets it apart from mere entertainment, is due to the awe-inspiring nature of this real heroism.
By not underestimating the power of truth and by eschewing sentimental embellishments, the film conveys a "sincerity in storytelling" that dramatic entertainment often forgets. This is likely due to a profound respect for the truth, for humanity, and above all, for the firefighters themselves.
This world is sustained by the dedication of nameless heroes like them. People we've never met or spoken to are protecting us every day. Realizing this anew, their efforts, which we may have overlooked, will feel much closer.
Just that alone can make our ordinary world seem different. This world is not hopeless after all. It's a film that makes you want to express gratitude to all the nameless heroes who make us feel this way.
****
A masterpiece that faithfully brings a shockingly true story to the screen.
Only the Brave
Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion, Tron: Legacy)
Starring Josh Brolin (Everest), Miles Teller (Whiplash), Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), Taylor Kitsch (Battleship), Jennifer Connelly (The Day the Earth Stood Still), and others.
Original Title: Only the Brave / 2017 / USA / Color / CinemaScope / 5.1ch Digital / 2 hours 14 minutes / Subtitle Translation: Kanji Hayashi
Distributed by Gaga Corporation
© 2017 NO EXIT FILM, LLC
Opens Friday, June 22, at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya and other theaters nationwide.
Jun Makiguchi
After working for Kyodo News, a film festival secretariat, and a magazine editorial department, she became independent. She currently writes film columns and interviews for women's and men's magazines, focusing on fashion, food, music, and other lifestyle topics within the cinematic world.