In January 2025, devastating wildfires broke out across Los Angeles County. The consequences were catastrophic. Over the course of that winter month, more than 230 square kilometers were burned. More than 16,000 buildings were destroyed.
In static, extended shots, we watch the disaster unfold before us. Deceptively serene, the fire continues to spread. We see firefighters at work, aid workers handing out donated supplies, and reporters doing their bits for the camera. Meanwhile, the fire rages on, sirens keep wailing in the distance, and firefighting helicopters fly overhead. The overall effect is hypnotic.
The fire transforms affluent Hollywood into something resembling a war zone. Houses, trees, and cars are reduced to ashes. These are not scenes of an isolated event; they foreshadow further disasters awaiting us in a warming world. And yet we seem determined to keep our eyes closed to that prospect. The most symbolic image in that respect is perhaps that of a burning Bank of America.
