The vibrant tapestry of Belo Horizonte, Brazil reveals walls adorned with…
Poets of the Sky
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- Reviews
- Citation
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A mystical journey through the pyrotechnics world, in which Poets of the Sky seeks to discover this art and those who make it.
The film portrays the passion and emotion that these artists bring together while discovering the uniqueness of some festivities around the world.
"'Poets of the Sky' is one of the most timely and necessary documentaries we have had in recent years." — Iván Romero, Sensacine Mexico
Citation
Main credits
Maillé, Emilio (film producer)
Maillé, Emilio (screenwriter)
Ángel, Gustavo (film producer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Carlos de Miguel; editing, Octavio Iturbe; music, Fabio Góes.
Distributor subjects
Visual Arts; Culture + Identity; Sociology; Religion + Spirituality; Anthropology; Latin American Studies; GeographyKeywords
00:00:06.918 --> 00:00:09.209
loneliness
00:00:09.209 --> 00:00:12.501
after the fireworks
00:00:12.501 --> 00:00:14.999
a sudden star
00:02:02.626 --> 00:02:08.501
SKY POETS
00:10:27.959 --> 00:10:29.501
This is the City of God!
00:10:30.584 --> 00:10:33.292
-Just like the movie, "City of God."
-Brazil! Brazil!
00:10:33.667 --> 00:10:35.501
Come on, guys,
you're making me cry.
00:10:36.375 --> 00:10:37.501
Here's the thing...
00:10:38.918 --> 00:10:41.584
We're probably not going to see
each other later,
00:10:41.584 --> 00:10:44.626
since you're boarding your boats,
and tomorrow you'll be going home.
00:10:44.626 --> 00:10:47.959
I just want to say
that I'm very grateful,
00:10:49.167 --> 00:10:52.042
and so proud of working
00:10:52.250 --> 00:10:54.375
with this amazing team.
00:10:54.375 --> 00:10:58.417
That has always been my greatest pride.
The work you do.
00:10:58.667 --> 00:11:00.250
The fireworks are great,
00:11:00.250 --> 00:11:01.459
but the greatest thing for me
00:11:01.459 --> 00:11:03.501
is working with you.
00:11:03.959 --> 00:11:05.375
Thank you so much
00:11:05.375 --> 00:11:07.417
for taking time
away from your families
00:11:07.417 --> 00:11:10.959
to come here to work and make
the world's best New Year's celebration!
00:11:10.999 --> 00:11:13.876
And bring joy
to 2 million people,
00:11:13.876 --> 00:11:16.584
even though your families
are back home.
00:11:17.375 --> 00:11:20.042
Thank you so much,
and Happy New Year!
00:11:59.209 --> 00:12:01.959
Thank you.
Thank you all very much.
00:12:02.292 --> 00:12:03.999
Thank you all.
00:12:04.751 --> 00:12:07.167
I am very proud of you all.
00:12:07.167 --> 00:12:12.626
In 15 minutes, we shall have
the fireworks ready.
00:12:12.626 --> 00:12:15.667
Less than 15?
In less than 15 minutes.
00:12:16.292 --> 00:12:19.250
Let's give them
the best show in the world.
00:12:19.751 --> 00:12:22.209
Let's give them
the best show in the world.
00:12:22.417 --> 00:12:24.709
Let's give them
the best show in the world.
00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:27.042
And, like I always say...
00:12:27.209 --> 00:12:29.584
Like I always say.
00:12:29.959 --> 00:12:31.667
Like I always say.
00:12:32.292 --> 00:12:33.834
Break a leg!
00:12:34.125 --> 00:12:35.667
Break a leg.
00:12:35.792 --> 00:12:37.792
Let us all break a leg.
00:12:37.999 --> 00:12:39.792
Let's nail it, guys.
00:12:40.167 --> 00:12:41.751
Let's go for it!
00:12:42.209 --> 00:12:46.209
We'll show them
what we're made of.
00:12:46.501 --> 00:12:49.167
Kisses.
Happy New Year.
00:12:49.501 --> 00:12:51.792
Many kisses,
and Happy New Year.
00:12:52.209 --> 00:12:55.876
Many kisses,
and Happy New Year.
00:12:55.876 --> 00:12:57.042
Thank you.
00:12:57.083 --> 00:12:58.292
Thank you.
00:12:58.334 --> 00:12:59.375
Thank you.
00:13:09.709 --> 00:13:14.375
In a few minutes,
we'll be starting countdown...
00:13:14.834 --> 00:13:17.209
Did you all catch that?
00:13:17.834 --> 00:13:20.626
In a few minutes,
we'll be starting countdown...
00:13:24.876 --> 00:13:26.417
Adrián, do you hear me?
00:13:27.167 --> 00:13:28.292
Yes.
00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:32.792
Is the generator on,
and the machine plugged in?
00:13:33.709 --> 00:13:35.083
Positive.
00:13:35.083 --> 00:13:38.918
In under six minutes,
we'll fire them.
00:13:39.501 --> 00:13:41.501
Okay.
I'll turn it off here.
00:13:43.959 --> 00:13:46.042
Five minutes, guys.
00:13:46.417 --> 00:13:48.834
-Happy New Year.
-Thank you. Happy New Year!
00:13:48.876 --> 00:13:49.876
Break a leg.
00:13:54.042 --> 00:13:55.125
Good luck.
00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:58.999
Thank you.
00:13:59.125 --> 00:14:02.876
For all of you in the ships:
Happy New Year!
00:14:06.250 --> 00:14:07.709
José, flip the switch.
00:14:07.709 --> 00:14:11.667
Do that and tell me if the
red light is on.
00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:13.584
Positive.
00:14:15.918 --> 00:14:17.501
Should we turn off the lights?
00:14:18.292 --> 00:14:20.459
-Let's do it!
-Yeah, let's do it!
00:14:22.083 --> 00:14:23.501
Come on, come on, come on.
00:14:23.501 --> 00:14:24.834
5 minutes, people.
00:14:24.834 --> 00:14:26.375
-5 minutes.
-Lights off.
00:14:34.083 --> 00:14:38.751
The year starts with pyrotechnics
all over the world
00:14:38.751 --> 00:14:41.042
and ends the same way.
00:14:41.292 --> 00:14:45.334
The universe came into being
with an explosion of light.
00:14:45.334 --> 00:14:50.626
I think that was the very first
pyrotechnics show.
00:14:51.250 --> 00:14:54.792
I think we are all aware that
00:14:54.792 --> 00:14:57.167
that's where we come from.
00:14:58.250 --> 00:15:02.292
30 seconds until it starts.
30 seconds!
00:15:04.918 --> 00:15:08.542
-Ten...
-Nine, eight,
00:15:08.626 --> 00:15:13.918
seven, six, five,
four, three, two...
00:15:14.125 --> 00:15:15.209
one.
00:15:15.209 --> 00:15:17.375
The bombs are going off.
Let's go!
00:15:24.918 --> 00:15:27.959
-We set them all off?
-All of them.
00:15:48.375 --> 00:15:50.125
12 or 10?
00:16:09.375 --> 00:16:10.876
Nicely done!
00:16:11.292 --> 00:16:13.334
Yes! Nicely synchronized.
Very good.
00:16:20.375 --> 00:16:22.292
-There we go.
-Yes.
00:16:57.501 --> 00:16:59.375
-We're on top of it!
-Right on the top!
00:16:59.375 --> 00:17:01.834
-Yes!
-Nice!
00:17:02.751 --> 00:17:04.542
Very good.
Very good.
00:17:41.417 --> 00:17:42.709
Listen well!
00:17:42.709 --> 00:17:45.542
Everything that's been taped
00:17:45.876 --> 00:17:47.626
you cut off...
00:17:47.626 --> 00:17:50.584
We need to gather
several bamboos.
00:17:50.584 --> 00:17:54.209
One for the tezutsu
and one for the scale model.
00:17:54.542 --> 00:17:56.167
So let's begin!
00:17:56.417 --> 00:17:58.209
Yes...
00:18:14.501 --> 00:18:18.459
When I entered the bamboo forest
for the first time,
00:18:18.751 --> 00:18:22.626
what struck me the most
was the smell.
00:18:22.834 --> 00:18:24.918
The scent of bamboo.
00:18:24.918 --> 00:18:27.876
"Is this the smell of bamboo?",
I thought.
00:18:28.083 --> 00:18:32.083
I was also taken aback
00:18:32.083 --> 00:18:35.417
by how big and thick
some of the bamboo were.
00:18:38.459 --> 00:18:39.709
Look at that one.
00:18:39.709 --> 00:18:41.751
It's hard to get through there.
00:18:44.209 --> 00:18:45.292
This way.
00:18:51.918 --> 00:18:54.292
This part is good.
00:18:54.542 --> 00:18:56.459
Or higher...
00:18:57.167 --> 00:18:59.792
We can cut it up to here.
00:19:00.083 --> 00:19:02.125
It's thick.
It's a good bamboo.
00:19:04.999 --> 00:19:06.709
Hold it tight.
00:19:21.667 --> 00:19:22.959
Almost there.
00:19:30.167 --> 00:19:32.334
Put it here.
00:19:34.709 --> 00:19:36.042
One, two, three...
00:19:37.334 --> 00:19:38.918
Okay. Again.
00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:41.792
One, two, three...
00:20:15.584 --> 00:20:17.542
It has a nice size.
00:20:17.584 --> 00:20:18.792
Yes, I like it.
00:20:18.792 --> 00:20:20.709
Two could come
easily out of it.
00:20:21.667 --> 00:20:24.375
-Three, even.
-I want one!
00:20:25.626 --> 00:20:27.876
We can have three easy,
I'm telling you!
00:20:28.709 --> 00:20:30.417
Let's get going.
00:21:44.250 --> 00:21:47.584
This kind of work
is very comforting,
00:21:47.584 --> 00:21:51.501
as we're out in the open.
00:21:51.751 --> 00:21:55.542
We experience heavy rain,
and lightning.
00:21:55.542 --> 00:21:58.999
It brings us closer
to nature, to the sounds.
00:21:59.209 --> 00:22:00.417
As if saying that
00:22:00.417 --> 00:22:03.959
this is where we belong.
00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:06.042
We can't let go this feeling.
00:22:08.042 --> 00:22:10.876
We feel at peace,
while we work.
00:22:10.876 --> 00:22:12.501
We feel at peace.
00:23:00.751 --> 00:23:03.501
Fireworks use black powder,
00:23:03.626 --> 00:23:07.250
and were once considered
tools of war.
00:23:07.250 --> 00:23:10.709
That’s how it all began.
00:23:10.709 --> 00:23:14.167
When black powder
arrived from China,
00:23:14.167 --> 00:23:17.584
it was tied to war, to bombs.
00:23:17.584 --> 00:23:20.626
But little by little,
00:23:20.626 --> 00:23:23.584
once fireworks reached Florence,
00:23:23.876 --> 00:23:25.584
it became a form of art.
00:24:30.042 --> 00:24:32.626
I was raised to believe in God,
00:24:32.626 --> 00:24:35.626
into our religion, Catholicism.
00:24:36.334 --> 00:24:38.667
There must be a reason
00:24:38.959 --> 00:24:42.876
why we believe,
00:24:42.876 --> 00:24:47.501
I don't think most of the world
is wrong...
00:25:12.250 --> 00:25:13.667
Fire,
00:25:13.667 --> 00:25:17.292
why does this energy
fascinate us so much?
00:25:17.292 --> 00:25:19.501
Now we know that fire
isn't only an element,
00:25:19.501 --> 00:25:21.584
but a transitory stage
00:25:21.584 --> 00:25:24.292
between two elements,
between two moments.
00:25:24.417 --> 00:25:26.751
Just as with life,
I've always thought
00:25:26.751 --> 00:25:29.667
that the path is more
important than the end.
00:25:29.667 --> 00:25:32.125
And that the fire
is a kind of path,
00:25:32.125 --> 00:25:35.876
the kind of place I would find myself
in constant movement,
00:25:35.876 --> 00:25:38.751
in a time
that's always changing.
00:25:38.751 --> 00:25:41.626
And that would be exciting,
for sure.
00:25:56.876 --> 00:25:59.167
Moved and enlightened,
00:25:59.292 --> 00:26:02.667
for giving
the flower offering
00:26:02.667 --> 00:26:04.792
to Mary, Mother of the Forsaken.
00:26:05.667 --> 00:26:09.876
But I think it's something
that's within us all.
00:26:10.542 --> 00:26:13.751
It's being at peace
with others,
00:26:14.209 --> 00:26:15.751
with nature, with the animals
00:26:15.751 --> 00:26:17.751
with everything.
00:26:17.751 --> 00:26:20.584
My philosophy
embraces this belief:
00:26:20.792 --> 00:26:22.792
being at peace with society.
00:26:38.751 --> 00:26:41.375
And now, the moment we've
all been waiting for:
00:26:41.792 --> 00:26:43.667
having them face to face.
00:26:44.876 --> 00:26:48.209
Having her facing
Mary, Mother of the Forsaken.
00:26:55.501 --> 00:26:59.959
Of course it's our relation
with the fire,
00:27:00.209 --> 00:27:02.417
with flames.
00:27:02.417 --> 00:27:06.959
It's the fascination we,
humans, have for fire,
00:27:07.417 --> 00:27:12.417
it has an impact over us,
it astonishes us.
00:27:12.959 --> 00:27:16.334
It's something intuitive.
00:27:16.834 --> 00:27:19.999
We make rituals,
00:27:20.751 --> 00:27:22.584
we adore fire,
00:27:22.834 --> 00:27:27.250
it purifies our body
and our soul.
00:28:27.083 --> 00:28:29.999
Fire now, please.
00:29:13.125 --> 00:29:16.417
The "despertá" is used to,
as the name suggests,
00:29:16.417 --> 00:29:18.959
wake up all Valencians
00:29:19.459 --> 00:29:22.042
and party-goers
to celebrate the day,
00:29:22.042 --> 00:29:25.999
to start the party,
as if saying,
00:29:25.999 --> 00:29:28.209
"Rise and shine, Valencia!"
00:31:18.792 --> 00:31:23.167
Being a pyrotechnician
is a passion, then a job.
00:31:23.167 --> 00:31:25.459
It's being a little crazy, too
00:31:25.792 --> 00:31:28.375
Because, in order to do
what we do,
00:31:29.083 --> 00:31:31.250
we need some screws loose.
What can I say?
00:32:26.542 --> 00:32:30.417
My father... Thirty years ago,
I'd serve him food and water.
00:32:30.709 --> 00:32:32.292
He didn't let me do a thing.
00:32:32.876 --> 00:32:36.876
He'd always ask me if everything
was ready for the following day,
00:32:36.876 --> 00:32:39.334
for the Mascletá,
and I said "yes".
00:32:39.334 --> 00:32:41.501
He'd ask, "Who's firing the
warning shots?"
00:32:41.501 --> 00:32:43.083
I'd say,
"I am".
00:32:43.876 --> 00:32:45.167
And the world fell apart for him.
00:32:45.167 --> 00:32:48.792
"What are you saying?
They'll think you behave like a man!"
00:32:48.792 --> 00:32:49.999
Complaints of old.
00:32:49.999 --> 00:32:52.083
"Dad, who owns
the company? Me!"
00:32:52.542 --> 00:32:56.083
They have to see me in there.
They have to deal with it.
00:32:56.417 --> 00:33:00.626
But thanks to that,
I started breaking taboos,
00:33:00.626 --> 00:33:03.834
and everyone started taking
women to launch fireworks.
00:33:35.792 --> 00:33:37.334
Now put these in the box.
00:33:38.375 --> 00:33:39.959
The box at the bottom.
00:34:04.459 --> 00:34:06.292
What's a "Mascletá"?
00:34:07.626 --> 00:34:09.542
What's a "Mascletá"?
00:34:13.709 --> 00:34:15.417
It's what we wear
on our heads.
00:34:30.292 --> 00:34:33.209
-Lips painted and everything!
-Give her a kiss!
00:34:33.250 --> 00:34:34.542
Reyes, give her a kiss!
00:34:42.751 --> 00:34:45.459
This is mini-me.
00:34:45.667 --> 00:34:46.999
It's mini Reyes.
00:34:46.999 --> 00:34:48.626
I'm feeling so many things.
00:34:48.918 --> 00:34:51.375
So much exhaustion
and so many other things.
00:34:53.751 --> 00:34:55.626
This goes for somebody...
00:34:55.626 --> 00:34:58.042
Who was small,
but had a big heart.
00:34:58.209 --> 00:34:59.209
Just like you!
00:34:59.209 --> 00:35:00.792
Very small, but very big.
00:35:00.792 --> 00:35:02.250
Tiny, but huge.
00:35:02.250 --> 00:35:03.459
Reyes Martí!
00:35:05.250 --> 00:35:07.751
We don't usually say it,
but you know...
00:35:07.959 --> 00:35:10.167
-You are very big!
-I am very big!
00:35:11.125 --> 00:35:14.501
If you weren't,
your heart wouldn't fit.
00:35:16.709 --> 00:35:18.083
I'm at the verge of tears.
00:35:21.834 --> 00:35:23.959
The Mascletá is a symphony.
00:38:56.501 --> 00:38:58.918
For me, each fireworks shell
00:38:58.918 --> 00:39:01.292
is like an actor.
00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:05.459
They're actors performing on a stage,
00:39:06.083 --> 00:39:09.459
a stage we make for them.
00:39:10.375 --> 00:39:12.626
And we all wish
00:39:12.959 --> 00:39:15.250
and hope
00:39:15.250 --> 00:39:17.626
that they'll make
a good performance.
00:39:18.417 --> 00:39:20.334
That's what's most important.
00:39:25.375 --> 00:39:27.918
There are beautiful shells,
00:39:28.250 --> 00:39:32.709
and cool shells.
00:39:32.709 --> 00:39:34.709
There are some that are unique,
00:39:34.834 --> 00:39:38.334
and some that have
more attitude,
00:39:38.334 --> 00:39:41.626
actors that are more serious,
so to speak.
00:42:29.876 --> 00:42:33.584
The fireworks contest
00:42:33.584 --> 00:42:37.417
is a very personal story...
00:42:37.751 --> 00:42:42.042
I first heard
the sound of fireworks
00:42:42.125 --> 00:42:44.000
when I was in
my mother's womb.
00:42:44.876 --> 00:42:46.626
Since before I was born,
00:42:47.375 --> 00:42:50.876
I carry them in my body.
00:42:51.083 --> 00:42:55.626
Plus, my father,
for 50 years now,
00:42:55.626 --> 00:42:59.459
has been the announcer voice
in the competition.
00:42:59.709 --> 00:43:02.667
He does it like this,
00:43:02.667 --> 00:43:05.459
"Here comes number one!"
00:43:05.459 --> 00:43:08.167
And so on.
00:43:14.459 --> 00:43:17.459
Omagari is a city
00:43:17.459 --> 00:43:19.542
with a strong fireworks tradition.
00:43:19.542 --> 00:43:22.250
Because of that, the public here
00:43:22.542 --> 00:43:25.751
has sharp eyes
and is very demanding.
00:43:25.959 --> 00:43:28.918
especially during the yearly
fireworks competiition.
00:43:28.918 --> 00:43:30.667
That's how this place is.
00:43:30.667 --> 00:43:35.584
Keep walking forward, please!
Take your places quickly!
00:43:59.292 --> 00:44:00.834
Fireworks?
00:44:02.083 --> 00:44:03.834
Let me think about it for a bit.
00:44:11.751 --> 00:44:15.042
It's like the theater of life.
00:44:17.209 --> 00:44:19.542
There's joy, there's fun,
00:44:20.876 --> 00:44:22.626
but there are also problems.
00:44:24.709 --> 00:44:29.876
And regardless of that,
we do our best.
00:44:30.876 --> 00:44:31.959
That's it.
00:44:38.834 --> 00:44:42.083
It's also like a woman.
00:44:43.334 --> 00:44:46.250
A girlfriend.
00:44:47.167 --> 00:44:49.042
It's the source of happiness...
00:44:58.709 --> 00:45:01.667
but of suffering, too.
00:45:09.375 --> 00:45:12.250
There will be some
"mist-type" fireworks,
00:45:12.250 --> 00:45:16.501
and we hope you all enjoy
00:45:16.501 --> 00:45:21.250
and appreciate the best
that our event has to offer.
00:45:21.250 --> 00:45:25.334
In addition, for this occasion
we will also have fireworks
00:45:25.334 --> 00:45:27.375
of up to 700 meters in height.
00:45:32.250 --> 00:45:35.667
The fireworks were used a lot
during the day
00:45:35.667 --> 00:45:39.167
in some Shinto temple rituals.
00:45:39.542 --> 00:45:43.250
But they were also widely used
00:45:43.250 --> 00:45:48.375
as war signs.
00:48:34.918 --> 00:48:36.125
Regarding
00:48:38.334 --> 00:48:41.792
the danger and the risk
of making fireworks.
00:48:43.292 --> 00:48:45.834
The basic nature of fireworks is
00:48:46.792 --> 00:48:49.334
something extremely small
00:48:49.834 --> 00:48:52.209
that becomes extremely large.
00:48:52.626 --> 00:48:57.584
If I do something wrong,
I might get blown up.
00:48:57.792 --> 00:49:01.626
Well, I say I'm lucky.
00:49:01.834 --> 00:49:04.709
Because any sudden moves
could get me into an accident.
00:49:04.709 --> 00:49:06.792
Another person
might be blown up by now.
00:49:08.501 --> 00:49:12.876
If you hit the iron when
there's some gunpowder on it...
00:49:13.125 --> 00:49:19.000
If you work fast and end up
hitting gunpowder,
00:49:19.250 --> 00:49:20.250
it's all over.
00:49:20.292 --> 00:49:22.375
Accidents happen
during production.
00:49:22.375 --> 00:49:23.417
And many times,
00:49:23.834 --> 00:49:29.083
it's due to overconfidence.
00:49:29.083 --> 00:49:31.292
Not thinking twice
about what one's doing.
00:49:33.250 --> 00:49:34.542
Oh my God!
00:49:34.542 --> 00:49:36.918
Holy Mother of God!
00:49:37.751 --> 00:49:39.542
Is that for real?
00:49:44.125 --> 00:49:46.167
They're still blowing up.
Oh, God!
00:49:46.334 --> 00:49:48.334
It was so close by.
Down that way!
00:49:48.334 --> 00:49:49.417
Sweet heavens!
00:49:51.584 --> 00:49:54.083
My God!
They just keep going off!
00:49:54.209 --> 00:49:56.125
Careful! Holy Mother...
00:49:56.125 --> 00:49:58.334
Look at that! Look!
00:49:58.375 --> 00:49:59.959
Oh my Lord...
00:50:01.083 --> 00:50:02.584
Stay calm!
00:50:03.626 --> 00:50:04.751
Don't come any closer!
00:50:04.751 --> 00:50:05.959
Goodness!
00:50:06.250 --> 00:50:08.000
It was those damned rocks!
00:50:08.542 --> 00:50:13.751
It was down there! Watch out!
There were many of them!
00:50:13.751 --> 00:50:15.709
The workshops are on fire!
00:50:20.417 --> 00:50:24.250
At one point, my brother died.
00:50:24.250 --> 00:50:27.209
That's when it hit us.
The negative side of pyrotechnics.
00:50:28.584 --> 00:50:30.918
When our family
00:50:30.918 --> 00:50:35.876
is devastated by the pain
00:50:36.167 --> 00:50:39.792
and sacrifice
that take a lifetime
00:50:40.459 --> 00:50:42.959
to overcome,
00:50:43.167 --> 00:50:46.501
because someone very dear
is taken from you,
00:50:46.501 --> 00:50:48.626
someone you loved.
00:50:48.834 --> 00:50:52.918
That's when we realize
that pyrotechnics
00:50:53.083 --> 00:50:56.083
is more than just
illusion and work.
00:50:56.334 --> 00:50:59.292
It's about respect.
00:50:59.292 --> 00:51:01.959
We must respect and love it.
00:51:03.125 --> 00:51:06.918
But not fear it.
Only respect and love it.
00:51:25.792 --> 00:51:27.626
What's the value
of somebody else's life?
00:51:28.417 --> 00:51:31.000
Only I can decide
the value of my life.
00:51:31.000 --> 00:51:35.125
But others' lives are priceless.
00:51:35.125 --> 00:51:39.292
It is my duty
as a pyrotechnician
00:51:39.876 --> 00:51:42.876
to avoid endangering
somebody else.
00:52:10.125 --> 00:52:13.959
Saint Barbara,
thank you for protecting us.
00:52:20.626 --> 00:52:24.501
Saint Barbara is Saint Barbara.
Of course that, in our line of work,
00:52:24.501 --> 00:52:26.667
she's our protector.
00:52:26.667 --> 00:52:29.417
She has protected us
so much so far.
00:52:30.709 --> 00:52:32.417
And we hope it remains that way.
00:52:34.918 --> 00:52:36.834
Blessed be Saint Barbara.
00:52:37.501 --> 00:52:38.584
Saint
00:52:39.000 --> 00:52:41.459
who lived in the 3rd Century.
00:52:42.667 --> 00:52:47.167
During the reign of Catholics
and Romans.
00:52:47.834 --> 00:52:53.250
Blessed be Saint Barbara:
sovereign of thunder, of sparks,
00:52:53.250 --> 00:52:57.334
of storms, of fire,
00:52:57.542 --> 00:52:59.584
and of fireworks.
00:52:59.584 --> 00:53:02.167
The pyrotechnicians
replaced by gunpowder,
00:53:02.459 --> 00:53:05.167
are the firemen,
the fire people...
00:53:05.375 --> 00:53:06.876
Blessed be Saint Barbara...
00:56:02.626 --> 00:56:06.501
Soon we'll be carrying out
00:56:06.501 --> 00:56:10.751
the award ceremony.
00:56:12.250 --> 00:56:14.792
For the most creative firework,
00:56:15.334 --> 00:56:20.042
the prize goes to
Horiguchi Eukaten, from Inakukan.
00:56:46.584 --> 00:56:51.000
What I think and feel
while I carry out my work
00:56:51.042 --> 00:56:55.959
is always directed
at the public.
00:56:56.375 --> 00:57:00.000
I want people to like it.
00:57:00.292 --> 00:57:05.792
The applause, the admiration,
the smiles...
00:57:05.792 --> 00:57:07.959
That's what's more important.
00:57:26.125 --> 00:57:29.250
The Eiffel tower experience
is very interesting
00:57:29.250 --> 00:57:32.792
One of the most important things
in pyrotechnics is the "fire area".
00:57:32.792 --> 00:57:38.334
The fire area is a momento in which
you seize a space,
00:57:38.334 --> 00:57:41.292
in which you stop all activity
00:57:41.292 --> 00:57:43.876
inside the area
you're working on,
00:57:43.876 --> 00:57:46.751
in which you have control
over everything.
00:58:00.042 --> 00:58:03.125
The very first memory I have
of the Eiffel Tower
00:58:03.334 --> 00:58:05.459
is from the year 2000,
right in New Year's.
00:58:05.459 --> 00:58:08.751
At a certain moment.
400 meters of safe zone
00:58:08.751 --> 00:58:10.125
that surrounded the Tower.
00:58:10.250 --> 00:58:11.459
It was my home.
00:58:11.459 --> 00:58:14.584
I had taken the Eiffel tower.
00:58:14.584 --> 00:58:16.792
And a big part of
the 7th district.
00:58:17.000 --> 00:58:18.042
Only we were there.
00:58:18.042 --> 00:58:21.501
We were 25 people from here,
from Camargue,
00:58:21.501 --> 00:58:24.250
and we had stolen
the Eiffel Tower.
00:58:24.792 --> 00:58:26.042
We were all alone.
00:58:26.042 --> 00:58:28.167
There were thousands
in the distance,
00:58:28.167 --> 00:58:31.125
and all the TVs in the world
watching us,
00:58:31.125 --> 00:58:32.417
but we were alone.
00:58:32.626 --> 00:58:35.334
Can you imagine how it feels,
seeing the Eiffel Tower empty,
00:58:35.334 --> 00:58:38.584
with a perfectly clear view
all the way to Trocadero,
00:58:38.584 --> 00:58:40.501
to the École Militaire?
00:58:40.501 --> 00:58:42.167
We were alone.
01:00:08.918 --> 01:00:10.459
Light them up now!
Come on!
01:00:10.459 --> 01:00:11.667
Not yet.
01:00:14.334 --> 01:00:16.250
Light them up,
it's about to end!
01:04:33.167 --> 01:04:36.667
There's a point
where you get the goosebumps.
01:04:36.667 --> 01:04:38.792
when a "bang"...
01:04:38.792 --> 01:04:42.751
When we suddenly hear
this strong "bang".
01:04:42.751 --> 01:04:46.417
I have felt, you know...
01:04:46.417 --> 01:04:50.209
With pyrotechnics,
bombs that we can feel right here.
01:04:50.209 --> 01:04:54.083
They blow up, and we can feel
our insides shaking.
01:04:54.083 --> 01:04:56.792
It all goes together.
01:04:56.792 --> 01:05:00.042
All your senses start working.
01:05:00.417 --> 01:05:06.292
It's like a drug of some sort.
01:05:06.292 --> 01:05:09.792
When it happens,
it activates all your senses...
01:05:25.250 --> 01:05:28.834
We must sand the sides well.
01:05:28.834 --> 01:05:31.918
It must be as smooth
as can be.
01:05:31.918 --> 01:05:35.417
Try to keep it the same shape.
01:05:35.417 --> 01:05:37.417
We need to leave space
for the gunpowder.
01:05:38.584 --> 01:05:41.125
Since you chose it,
01:05:41.125 --> 01:05:44.417
it's your responsibility.
01:05:44.417 --> 01:05:49.167
We give advice
and we help each other,
01:05:49.167 --> 01:05:51.250
but in the end
is your responsiblity.
01:05:52.167 --> 01:05:55.834
In activities related
to the tezutsu,
01:05:56.876 --> 01:05:59.542
only men can take part.
01:05:59.667 --> 01:06:04.083
That's because
the whole process
01:06:05.209 --> 01:06:07.542
shows
01:06:07.542 --> 01:06:10.709
when one is already
a grown man.
01:06:11.375 --> 01:06:13.584
That's the tradition.
01:06:45.083 --> 01:06:47.751
Metaphorically speaking,
01:06:47.751 --> 01:06:51.876
it's as if it was
our son or our daughter,
01:06:52.042 --> 01:06:54.876
our child.
01:06:55.083 --> 01:06:58.042
That's how I feel.
01:07:20.209 --> 01:07:23.959
She has a kind of...
01:07:26.918 --> 01:07:28.501
blue chisel.
01:07:54.584 --> 01:07:57.959
Me, personally?
From everything I see.
01:07:59.542 --> 01:08:02.751
Sometimes a tree
01:08:02.918 --> 01:08:05.792
can give me an idea,
01:08:07.918 --> 01:08:09.501
or an animal.
01:08:09.501 --> 01:08:13.792
Maybe some kind
of movement or sound.
01:08:13.792 --> 01:08:17.626
Maybe they transmit
some sort of vibration.
01:08:17.626 --> 01:08:20.209
I love wooden Mexican toys.
01:08:20.709 --> 01:08:24.375
They move with their own weight,
it's not that complicated.
01:08:24.584 --> 01:08:29.125
They don't need an engine
to allow that movement.
01:08:29.125 --> 01:08:32.375
With the castles,
that's how it is.
01:09:07.876 --> 01:09:11.292
When we build a castle,
01:09:11.292 --> 01:09:16.000
and they are so big.
01:09:16.250 --> 01:09:17.876
People will ask,
01:09:18.584 --> 01:09:22.375
"Wow, how do you do it?"
01:09:22.626 --> 01:09:28.209
I hadn't thought about it. It's true,
"How do we do it?"
01:09:29.584 --> 01:09:34.876
They come and say, "I can't believe it,
they've built 12 in a single day!"
01:09:34.876 --> 01:09:37.667
"They made all of this in one day!
It's huge!"
01:09:38.417 --> 01:09:40.542
"And most amazingly,
they don't fall!"
01:09:40.709 --> 01:09:45.334
They look beautiful.
And even light up at night!
01:09:46.876 --> 01:09:51.250
We feel a rush of adrenaline because,
after we build the castle,
01:09:51.250 --> 01:09:57.000
it may face strong winds, or rain,
or worse, God forbid.
01:09:57.167 --> 01:10:00.834
We feel that rise in adrenaline.
01:10:00.834 --> 01:10:03.334
It's, as they say,
a risk we have to face.
01:10:13.167 --> 01:10:15.667
We try to please everybody.
01:10:15.667 --> 01:10:20.959
Sometimes a certain audience
is more sincere.
01:10:20.959 --> 01:10:25.584
Sometimes the kids will say,
"What a pretty castle, daddy."
01:10:25.584 --> 01:10:28.667
And so they spread the word.
Children are more sincere.
01:10:33.417 --> 01:10:37.584
I love building
castles and towers.
01:10:37.918 --> 01:10:41.417
We can leave our mark and say,
01:10:41.417 --> 01:10:46.459
"I'll paint so and such here",
as if it were a canvas.
01:10:46.459 --> 01:10:47.834
That's how I see it.
01:10:48.042 --> 01:10:52.209
And I'll say, "I want to draw this
in this way".
01:10:52.501 --> 01:10:56.292
And when I see
the finished product,
01:10:56.292 --> 01:10:59.375
I say, "That's just
how I wanted it".
01:11:39.667 --> 01:11:44.209
Our imagination runs wild,
and frees us.
01:11:44.209 --> 01:11:46.542
The idea gets
stuck in our minds,
01:11:46.542 --> 01:11:50.751
and there's no other way
of expressing it.
01:15:01.751 --> 01:15:03.751
Ready!
01:15:05.042 --> 01:15:09.292
-Heave ho!
-Heave ho!
01:16:25.584 --> 01:16:27.667
Pull it a little more.
01:16:30.334 --> 01:16:32.334
Look, right here.
01:16:32.542 --> 01:16:34.125
Take your places, everybody!
01:16:42.375 --> 01:16:44.834
Wait, wait!
01:16:46.626 --> 01:16:48.292
There we go!
01:16:48.501 --> 01:16:53.459
-Heave ho!
-Heave ho!
01:18:07.292 --> 01:18:09.334
How are we doing?
01:18:09.542 --> 01:18:12.042
I'm so glad
to see you all here!
01:18:15.167 --> 01:18:17.417
Now I'm going to tell you
01:18:18.250 --> 01:18:20.375
something deeply personal.
01:18:23.959 --> 01:18:27.417
In June, I got married!
01:18:27.626 --> 01:18:31.751
And I owe this to my parents,
who brought me to this world!
01:18:31.959 --> 01:18:34.334
Thank you very much!
01:18:37.501 --> 01:18:41.542
And now, let's enjoy this!
01:20:24.250 --> 01:20:27.959
Earthquakes, violent storms,
01:20:27.959 --> 01:20:30.501
volcanic eruptions,
01:20:30.501 --> 01:20:32.959
they're things we remember.
01:20:33.292 --> 01:20:36.709
And I think...
Of course, it's a personal analysis.
01:20:36.709 --> 01:20:38.959
That there's a moment
that's similar
01:20:38.959 --> 01:20:41.209
to falling in love
with fireworks.
01:20:41.209 --> 01:20:43.209
That is, the joy and the fear.
01:20:43.209 --> 01:20:46.417
An immense joy
over what's going to happen,
01:20:46.417 --> 01:20:49.167
and an immense sadness
over losing that freedom.
01:20:49.167 --> 01:20:54.542
Immense joy over the idea
of sharing that love,
01:20:54.542 --> 01:20:59.000
and, at the same time, the idea
that other things are coming to an end.
01:20:59.000 --> 01:21:00.751
An imbalance of sorts.
01:21:00.959 --> 01:21:04.542
When during the moment
of explosion,
01:21:04.542 --> 01:21:07.334
that at the same time,
produces incredible flowers,
01:21:07.334 --> 01:21:08.417
amazing things,
01:21:08.417 --> 01:21:13.626
we feel something that takes us away
from our normal state.
01:21:13.626 --> 01:21:18.000
We're enveloped by something
that is perfectly contradictory.
01:21:24.876 --> 01:21:27.167
After we light up the tezutsu,
01:21:27.584 --> 01:21:32.250
it rises.
01:21:33.042 --> 01:21:38.792
And, as our bodies approach it,
01:21:38.792 --> 01:21:42.209
the sparks expand
01:21:42.209 --> 01:21:45.876
and jump in the air.
01:21:46.501 --> 01:21:48.292
We realize they envelope
our bodies.
01:21:48.292 --> 01:21:53.584
We see the way they gradually
fill the space surrounding us,
01:21:53.584 --> 01:21:55.834
and how they cover us,
like a shower of light.
01:21:56.125 --> 01:22:01.334
That's when time stops,
and everything slows down...
01:22:01.459 --> 01:22:05.542
We're focused,
we don't think of anything else.
01:22:05.751 --> 01:22:12.709
But we remember everything
we did up to that point.
01:22:44.876 --> 01:22:50.292
We become ecstatic,
01:22:50.292 --> 01:22:54.918
and, at the same time, at peace.
01:27:29.959 --> 01:27:33.167
Shango, fireworks, gunpowder!
01:35:12.959 --> 01:35:19.250
SAINT BARBARA CELEBRATION/SHANGO
HAVANA, CUBA - DECEMBER 2016
01:35:26.250 --> 01:35:35.542
CHINESE NEW YEAR
HONG KONG, CHINA - FEBRUARY 2017
01:35:55.876 --> 01:36:00.542
NEW YEAR'S EVE - RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
DEC-JAN 2016-2017
01:36:34.083 --> 01:36:37.792
SANTA MARTHAS DAY, SANTA MARTHA ACATITLA,
MEXICO, FEBRUARY 2017
01:36:38.083 --> 01:36:42.584
TULTEPEC, MEXICO
JULY 2017
01:36:43.042 --> 01:36:47.209
PYROS PILGRIMAGE TO GUADALUPE'S BASILICA
MEXICO CITY - NOV 2016
01:37:27.542 --> 01:37:33.959
GION FESTIVAL
TOYOHASHI, JAPAN JULY 2017
01:37:33.959 --> 01:37:40.083
PYROTECHNICS NATIONAL CONTEST
OMAGARI, JAPAN - AUGUST 2017
01:37:47.209 --> 01:37:53.209
14TH OF JULY
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 2012
01:38:13.626 --> 01:38:24.083
LAS FALLAS
VALENCIA, SPAIN - MARCH 2017
Distributor: Pragda Films
Length: 102 minutes
Date: 2019
Genre: Expository
Language: Spanish; French; English; Portuguese
Grade: Middle School, High School, College, Adult
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
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