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Filmmaker Dives into 'Pyropolitics' of LA Fires
26 Oct
Summary
- Filmmaker Lukas Marxt's doc '>1.5°C' explores LA wildfires through observation.
- The film focuses on 'pyropolitics,' the geopolitical causes of fires.
- '>1.5°C' premieres Oct. 27 at DOK Leipzig and Viennale, then IDFA.
Austrian filmmaker Lukas Marxt presents '>1.5°C: Pyropolitics and the New World,' an experimental documentary capturing the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The film diverges from typical news coverage, offering viewers extended observational scenes from steady viewpoints. It avoids talking heads or narration, instead using a philosophical quote to introduce the concept of 'pyropolitics,' or the politics of fire.
The documentary aims to encourage deeper understanding of the geopolitical and political factors contributing to fires. This unique approach is evident in the film's title, which references the 1.5°C temperature limit set by the Paris Agreement. Marxt, who was in California during the fires, was inspired to document these events after witnessing their impact.
The film premiered on October 27 at DOK Leipzig, followed by screenings at the Viennale and IDFA. Marxt and co-cinematographer Carson Davis Brown deliberately avoided capturing what was already covered by news outlets, focusing instead on an observational depiction of the event and its aftermath. The film's structure follows a simple red thread: the sound of fire, moving closer to and inside the flames, and then the afterburn.
Marxt hopes the film sparks conversations about collective responsibility in shaping the Earth, driven by profit motives that alter natural fire patterns. His work often explores environmental and climate challenges, pushing him into what he describes as dystopian or apocalyptic surroundings. He is currently working on another film project with co-director Carson Davis Brown, focusing on an unregulated gun range in the High Desert.
