Rebuilding Paradise

I expected more from this documentary made by the famous Hollywood director Ron Howard. What this documentary is mostly showing one could already have seen in any tv reportage about the fires.

The title of this movie "Rebuilding Paradise" is quite misplaced, because most people cant or dare not return to the burned down town Paradise and have to live in with family or in a trailer. A few people, whose homes have been saved do still live there though and they have to shower in water that is so heavily polluted it permeates through the human skin while showering and can harm an unborn infant.

What's most impressive are the people who are filming their escape out of a sea of fire, with their carwheels literally on fire as they are fleeing their hometown Paradise. But that is only a very small part of the movie. It's mostly about grieving, scared or angry homeowners who have to deal with finding a new home again etc.

What's most scandalous is the fact that because of reckless neglect in maintenance of above ground powerlines by the electric company, this fire got started in the first place. But only a few minutes of this documentary is dedicated to that cause. Missed opportunity!

All in all, this documentary is not very wel made, but it certainly is not a bad document of these fires that destroyed part of California. It could have been better though if this documentary had paid much more attention to the causes of these fires and what can be done to prevent it in the future. Fire causes and ways of prevention do get mentioned, but only shortly and in passing, which is a bit of a shame...

The documentary which opens with fire footage, centers on the survivors' emotional journeys and emphasizes their will to take back their lives. The documentary, which emphasizes the difficulties of environmental dangers, trauma, and bureaucratic red tape, strikes a balance between hopelessness and despair. It also honors the indomitable spirit of individuals who live in Paradise. Viewers are left thinking about human resiliency and the value of group power in recovering from unspeakable tragedy.

The inferno inside that fire is awe inspiring to see, and the devastation is brutal. The aftermath is full of things that you'd only come to understand once a catastrophe like this unfolds. Also showing the side of humans helping a community to rebuild their lives makes for a good story in this documentary.

It's so sad how Paradise burned in the fire, and this footage captures not only the despair that goes with it but some breathtaking footage of those escaping the fire. It really shows how fast things can spiral out of control. It could have done a better job with talking about how these fires start and how to prevent them, but it was a well done human interest piece about rebuilding.

When I say that a film is depressing, I am NOT necessarily saying you shouldn't watch it or that it's a bad film. This Ron Howard documentary is well made and interesting but it also cannot help but leave you feeling down when it has ended. I also mention it because I strongly encourage people dealing with depression NOT to watch it, as it might leave you more down as a result of watching.

The story is about a town oddly named 'Paradise' in Central California, just north of Chico and about 90 minutes north of Sacramento. Due to neglect by Pacific Gas & Electric, an electrical fire burned nearly all of the town to the ground. The film is about the first year after the fire and how the folks are coping with the disaster and upheaval.

Despite being made by a Hollywood insider, Howard, it has the look of a movie shot with the simplest of cameras...better than iPhones but sort of a cheap videocamera look. This is not a complaint...more an observation. It consists of photos, stock video and lots of interviews with the locals. Best of all, it has no narration...something it share with many better documentaries. Overall, it's very well made and interesting...especially for folks like me who live relatively close to Paradise and have seen PG&E's reaction to lawsuits concerning the fire.