PhotoThe director Viktor Jakovleski filmed “Brimstone & Glory” over three editions of the annual National Pyrotechnic Festival in Tultepec, Mexico, on the northern outskirts of Mexico City. Fireworks have long been a major industry in the municipality. In a section that deals with the construction of castles of fire — towers that shoot off fireworks — a local with a GoPro on his head climbs to a terrifying height. In brief moments — watching medics treat the wounded or police prepare for the day of the burning of the bulls — “Brimstone & Glory” hints at a more expansive, tapestry-like documentary that might have been. The decision not to dwell on the subjects is especially frustrating considering what happened in Tultepec last December, after filming, when an explosion at Mexico’s largest fireworks emporium killed dozens.

Source: New York Times November 21, 2017 17:48 UTC