Light my fire. review
Name;Joel Opoku Obeng.
Index Number;BFAMPP28022
Coursse;Visual Storytelling
REVIEW ON A SHORT FILM ‘’LIGHT MY FIRE’’
Film: Light My Fire
Written and Directed by Bobb Barito
Associate Producers: Matt Morgan & Zach Law
Executive Producer: Lizzie Shapiro
CAST;
Miles: Ed Moran
Roy: Colin Walker
Kendra: Rosie Benton
Clark: Dante Palminteri
Lucy: Lizzy DeClement
“Light My Fire” is a short film released in 2018, set on the Fourth of July. The film opens with raw anger but later transforms into a sobering examination of how masculine fantasies clash with harsh reality.
Talking about the story and theme of the film, I would say the film made me feel curious from the beginning, as I wondered what exactly was causing Miles’s anger to the point of reckless driving, which nearly led to an accident. The story hooked me right from the beginning. Miles’s angry and reckless driving instantly created tension and raised questions about what had happened. But the real surprise comes in the final scene, where the emotional heart of the story is revealed. It shifts from confrontation to quiet sadness. This suspense pulled me in before I even fully understood the situation.
The central message of the story is that violence isn’t the same as love, and that real emotional connection often requires vulnerability—not just action or rage.
The characters felt very real and believable, especially Miles and Lucy. The dog also made the film feel realistic. We all know that dogs protect their owners when a stranger wants to cause harm to them, and I think the dog executed that well, which made the film look real. Roy stood out positively by punishing Clark for being rude to Miles’s daughter, but the way he punished Clark also made him stand out negatively. Miles also stood out positively by seeking revenge for his daughter, but his use of violence as a way to deal with issues made him stand out negatively as well.
In the film, the relationship between Miles and his daughter is really compelling. Their bond is full of unspoken emotion. They clearly care about each other but don’t know how to express it in a healthy way.
The cinematography was excellent—every shot and angle explained each scene. The use of daylight made the film look realistic, and at the end of the film, the use of soft light made me feel the emotion of that scene. They really exaggerated the sounds in the film to tell the story realistically.
The final shot, where they sit on the porch together without speaking, was especially powerful. It visually captured emotional distance, regret, and love all at once. Lighting was mostly natural and soft, giving the film a grounded, intimate feel. Color tones were muted with warm highlights (like the glow from the fireworks), which helped emphasize both comfort and quiet sorrow.
The soundtrack played a subtle but powerful role in enhancing the film’s emotional tone. Instead of heavy music, the film leaned on quiet ambient sounds like the hum of fireworks, the rumble of the truck, and silence to create mood. Even though the film had very little dialogue, the sound was clean and professionally balanced. The sound effects—especially the fireworks and environmental noises—were realistic and added depth to the scenes without overpowering them. The sound balance helped keep focus on the characters’ emotions.
The film didn’t meet my expectations because, looking at the beginning, I was expecting a brutal result from Miles’s anger. Also, after Miles sought revenge for his daughter, I was expecting his daughter to be happy, but it turned out to be a sad story in the end.
The film evoked feelings of sadness and frustration. It was especially moving to watch a father struggle to comfort his daughter—not with words, but simply by being present. The quiet ending left a heavy emotional impact.
I would recommend this film, especially to people interested in emotional drama and family stories. It’s a short film that speaks volumes without saying much, and it leaves you thinking long after it ends. The film challenges viewers to think about how we express care, especially as men, and whether our actions truly reflect our love.
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