Burning Out
Saskia Gubbels / Netherlands / 2023 / International Premiere / 85 min
Dad humour is declared a thing of the past at a fire station in Amsterdam, where diversity must be promoted and employees must learn to interact with each other anew. A witty and human film about finding yourself in a time of cultural upheaval where fires still need to be put out.
New winds are blowing at Amsterdam’s oldest fire station. Management has decided to promote diversity. Such are the times, and it was probably about time. But one thing is to introduce changes, another is to realise them in everyday life when there are still fires to put out and kittens to rescue from the telephone poles. Gerrie, a middle manager, is proud of his work as a firefighter and of the good, collegial camaraderie his team has built up over the years. There’s room for both dad humour and affectionate in-jokes. But for how much longer? There’s a lot to get used to for the stubborn Gerrie, who, after many years on the dream job, has to find his feet as a leader again. But when the new inclusion policy means the station is in danger of being understaffed, it is not always easy to keep your emotions in check. A witty, human and understanding film for anyone who may have to get used to the changing times themselves.