Following Mimosas, Oliver Laxe’s third feature brings us to his ancestral home of Galicia. Here, in this remote Spanish region, where the grandeur of nature is both beautiful and terrifying, Laxe unfolds a story of the uncontrollable forces of nature on human lives.

After serving two years in prison for arson, Amador (Amador Arias), returns to his mountainside village in north-west Spain, where he resumes a serene, if mostly solitary, existence tending cabbages and injured cows with his ageing mother, Benedicta (Benedicta Sánchez). Life resumes for the two following the rhythm of nature despite the suspicious glares of the unforgiving locals —until one night a devastating fire ignites that threatens to engulf the entire region. Stunningly captured on 16mm by DP Mauro Herce, this quietly explosive drama was the winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes last year.

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Video Quality

Fire Will Come arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of KimStim with a stunning 1080p presentation that deftly represents this film. This is a visually transcendent film with a significant amount of time spent out in nature, and the camera treasures every single moment of it. There is a welcome amount of detail in close-up shots, along with wide shots of the dazzling vistas. Colors are faithfully saturated and especially complex within the foliage. Skin tones look natural, and there are some impressive facial details present. Black levels largely hold firm with no crush, and highlights avoid blooming. There are some moments in the smoky air that show hints of banding. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are nowhere to be found. The film is a treat to view on Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original Spanish that brings each sound to life with care. The movie contains sparse moments of dialogue, but the majority of the space is provided to linger and reflect upon the natural soundscape in totality. The track bustles with subtle sounds of nature flourishing out of the speakers. The film makes good use of panning effects to ground you in the space. Environmental sounds such as crackling of fire and wind come through well in the side and rear speakers. Dialogue is crisp and clear without being overshadowed by the score or sound effects. The film digs deep into the low end during key sequences to conjure valuable texture. Overall, this track does a masterful job representing the film. Optional English subtitles are available.

Special Features

Interview with Director Oliver Laxe: A 37-minute interview with the filmmaker conducted by Oscar-nominated Cinematographer Ed Lachman, in which he discusses his background, filmmakers who inspire him, being very deliberate about the shooting locations, how they captured certain shots, and more.

Theatrical Trailer (1:37)

Final Thoughts

Fire Will Come is a patient, observant drama that follows a character trying to find peace and redemption in a community not eager to forget past transgressions. The breathtaking cinematography is as essential a part of this narrative as any dialogue, as you get a sense of their personality through their interactions with nature. There are moments of significant beauty to go along with the harrowing destruction. It’s a mighty tale packed into a small framework. KimStim has provided a Blu-Ray with a terrific A/V presentation along with a cool interview. Those with an interest in impactful, humanistic dramas should not miss this one. Highly Recommended

Fire Will Come is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: KimStim and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.