Let the Fire Burn 2013

      A group called MOVE established themselves in West Philadelphia.  They were led by John Africa and they wanted to live simply without technology.  As time went by they became more radical and the adults had confrontations with the police.  Many were arrested and processed through the courts.  The children were raised eating raw food and the adults ate cooked food.  Clothing was optional for the younger children.  They felt their lifestyle was to live in truth.  On May 13 1985, they were staying in a city row house and there were many complaints from the neighbors.  The MOVE group used a loud speaker to broadcast out into the neighborhood.  There were complaints about noise, sanitation, debris and child abuse.  The Philadelphia police confronted the group and asked them to leave the house.  The MOVE group had constructed a bunker on the roof from which they could shoot and be protected.  A water spray and tear gas were first used to get them out.  The decision was made to drop a device from a helicopter to destroy the bunker.  The resulting fire burned the MOVE house and 60 other homes.  Five children and six adults were killed in the fire because they did not exit.  Only a female adult and a male child came out of the fire.

     This film shows the public investigation of the fire five months later.  There is a lot of archive footage from television news programs in the 70’s and 80’s.  You can see how both sides felt at the time.  There had been a previous incident with a police officer killed.  The MOVE people wanted to live their own way but they chose not to avoid confrontations.  The officers felt they had no choice but to address the behavior of the MOVE group and the way they acted in the neighborhood.  One of the biggest questions is why 60 other homes were allowed to burn?  3* (This movie is OK)

88 min, Doc directed by Jason Osder with Birdie, Ramona and Delbert Africa, Wilson Goode, William Brown III, William B. Lytton, LaVerne Sims.

Note:  Imdb 7.8 out of 10, 98% critic 90% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.8* out of 5* with 18 reviews.

Special Note:  One of the police officers was diagnosed with PTSD and left the force after this happened.