In a land ravaged by forest fires, a journey through the Canadian wilderness reveals the deep connection between humanity and nature. A tale of resilience and discovery at the edge of the wild.

Land of Fire takes us on a journey through remote areas of British Columbia where shadows of the past lurk in the forests. It is a land whose arteries are roads along which young women disappear. People struggle to save their villages and families from vast forest fires.  No matter who we talk to here, most people have a direct experience with violence, knowing somebody who died in a fight or went missing. People often turn to mythology and rituals in search of answers, they believe that when something bad happens to a person, the spirit leaves for the bush and the body keeps wandering the world without purpose. We travel to a place that stands on ruins of the old world, a world of magical creatures of the wild that was destroyed long ago. The film reveals how the violence present in the environment is reflected in the stories that parents tell their children. Land of Fire is a gripping exploration of the juxtaposition between people, nature and mythology, the dynamic of a triangle. Through the prism of often tragic personal experience the film delves into the interconnectedness of human existence, the clash between modernity and ancient lore, and the profound challenges faced by individuals seeking solace in the wild. Fires subdue entire valleys, figures by the roadside illuminated only by passing cars look like ghosts, people dance around the fire in remembrance of the dead, and men venture into the woods to hunt bears. Can you find a place of healing in this forgotten world?

IN DEVELOPMENT

CZ/GE

Script & Director: Nikola Klinger
Script advisor: Martin Ryšavý
Producer: Kristina Škodová
Co-producer: Jan Wilde (Zeitgebilde Filmproduktion)
Supported by: Creative Europe MEDIA
Presented at: IDFAcademy 2021, Pitch it@Berlinale workshop 2022/2023