In 2016, the Fort McMurray wildfire destroyed a large portion of Edmonton’s forests and forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Additionally, the destruction to wildlife was one of the worst that the region has ever seen. A new animated short film seeks to dive into that plus the mental health issues that calamities bring about.
The short film entitled “Back Home Again” looks to “reimagine” the catastrophe that forced over 90,000 people to flee their homes as the Fort McMurray wildfire burned many parts of the northern Alberta city to the ground. The animated film tells the tale of one of the largest wildfire evacuations in Canadian History through the perspective of woodland animals.
“Back Home Again’s” storyline draws inspiration from true to life experiences from people who were affected by the fire. It also takes from the real tales of brave men and women who ran rescue and recovery efforts amidst the Fort McMurray blaze.
The film’s writer and director, Michael Mankowski, grew up in Fort McMurray. In a new release, he shared that he wanted the film to show the power of community and how coming together can help us achieve amazing feats amidst challenging times.
The Fort McMurray fire that happened on May 1, 2016 was one of the most devastating that the nation had ever seen. It forced one of the largest wildfire evacuations in Alberta. Firefighters worked with the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other Canadian provincial agencies to oversee evacuations and firefighting.
Up to 2,400 homes were lost and some 2,000 residents were displaced after the fire when homes were deemed unsafe for occupation because of fire and contamination. A total estimated damage of C$9.9 billion was recorded, making it the biggest loss bill in Canada’s history.
The film, “Back Home Again,” seeks to dive into the mental health implications of the calamity. It features stars like Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Michael J. Fox and Jeremy Renner, as voice talents.
