Watch Let the Fire Burn

Let the Fire Burn is a documentary film which premiered in 2013. Directed by Jason Osder, the movie is based on the tragic incident that occurred in Philadelphia in 1985, where 11 people, including children were killed in a house fire that started due to a police assault on the MOVE organization. The film features original footage of the incident and presents a gripping narrative of the events that led to the fire and its aftermath.

The MOVE organization was a controversial group founded by John Africa in the early 1970s in Philadelphia. Members of the group believed in a natural lifestyle, rejecting modern technology and material possessions. They also had a militant stance against government authority and often clashed with the Philadelphia Police Department. Their confrontations with the authorities reached a peak in 1985 when the police decided to evict MOVE from their house in the city.

On May 13, 1985, Philly police descended on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia, where MOVE occupied a house. The police had an arrest warrant and orders to remove the members from the house. But the MOVE members refused to comply, and a standoff ensued. The police fired tear gas shells into the house in an attempt to flush out the occupants, but the MOVE members began firing back. Soon, the house was engulfed in flames, and the fire quickly spread to the neighboring buildings. The Philadelphia Fire Department could not contain the blaze, and the entire block was destroyed.

Let the Fire Burn uses archival footage, including news clips and interviews with eyewitnesses, to chronicle the events that led up to the tragic incident. The film includes footage of the testimony given by the survivors in the subsequent investigations, including the Mayor's Commission and the subsequent trial. The documentary also features interviews with the victims' family members, relatives, and friends.

One of the central characters in the film is Birdie Africa, the only child who survived the fire. His mother Ramona Africa was a member of MOVE and was inside the house during the standoff. Birdie was only 13 years old when the fire broke out, and he escaped through the basement with the help of a police officer. In an emotional interview, he describes the horror of watching his family and friends die in the fire.

Another key figure in the film is Wilson Goode, the Mayor of Philadelphia at the time of the incident. The documentary portrays Goode as being caught between conflicting demands to uphold the law and protect his citizens' lives. Critics of his administration accuse him of mishandling the police response, leading to the tragic outcome.

Let the Fire Burn is a thought-provoking and powerful documentary that raises questions about government authority, media coverage, and public safety. The film also highlights the human cost of political conflicts and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The documentary provides a comprehensive overview of the incident and its aftermath and offers insights into the social and political context of the times. Overall, Let the Fire Burn is a must-watch documentary for anyone interested in understanding the complexity of the MOVE organization and the tragic events that led to the loss of innocent lives.

Let the Fire Burn is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9 and a MetaScore of 86.