WE BURN LIKE THIS

We Burn Like This

Directed by Alana Waksman
U.S | 2021 | Narrative
81 minutes | English

When 22-year-old Rae, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, is targeted by neo-Nazis in Billings, Mont., her ancestors' trauma suddenly becomes very real. Returning home to her mother, she also uncovers the truth about a childhood accident. As anti-Semitism continues to rise in the community, Rae embarks on a journey to forgive herself, her mother, and the broken world. Inspired by true events, this coming-of-age story shows the inherited effects of historical trauma and the strength of survival and healing. “We Burn Like This” is the first feature by Alana Waksman, who in a director’s statement explains that she made the film to sort through her feelings about her Jewish identity and to explore what self-acceptance and self-love look like. “We Burn Like This” is part of SLIFF’s annual New Filmmakers Forum (NFF) competition, which features five works by first-time feature directors.