FDIC East 2004 Debuts “Brotherhood” Film

Atlantic City, NJ – Director Lilibet Foster debuted her most recent work, “Brotherhood”, a portrait of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), at last week’s FDIC East 2004. Foster set out to capture the culture, dedication, and job of FDNY firefighters and the world events developing around them that impact their daily lives.

This was no easy task. Foster visited countless fire stations throughout the city before settling on three on which to focus. “I started out by visiting as many of the fire houses in New York City as possible, looking for the best group of characters and to see if they would let me live with a camera in the middle of their world for a while,” says Foster. “I thought this would be the best way to convey the larger-than-life activity of a fire house and drama of their jobs [and], at the same time, the unspoken detail and subtlety of their personalities and camaraderie.” Completing such a task required FDNY members to allow Foster to live with them, in their home away from home. Three companies allowed her that opportunity: Squad 252, Brooklyn; Rescue 1, Manhattan; and Rescue 4, Queens.

The film focuses on these three companies as they right themselves after the 9/11 tragedy, prepare for the war in Iraq, face the threat of station closings or changing quarters because of budget cuts, and try to recover from mass retirements of the department’s most seasoned members.

The film works to capture the pecking order, personalities, respect for fires, teamwork, commitment to training, and camaraderie of the members of these companies. A “firefighter cam” provides a glimpse of firefighters doing their jobs as they rescue an entire family from a burning brownstone.

The film reveals what we already know: that the men and women of FDNY, like every fire department in the country, are committed to carrying on the expertise, loyalty, and traditions passed down for generations. This is a challenge as these companies try to rebuild following the devastating losses on 9/11 and the massive retirements of seasoned veterans. Compounding these challenges are the threat of the city’s closing Squad 252 and six other fire stations. As the United States prepared to go into Iraq, FDNY members rushed to prepare themselves for potential biological, radiological, and chemical retaliation. Being part of our nation’s front line of defense meant responding to new types of incidents. As one firefighter stated, “The reality of being a firefighter has really changed since I first joined. But the world changed for us because it changed for everyone.”

For more information on the film, visit http://www.brotherhoodfilm.com.

Mike Dugan and company talking building constructon and disasters

Humpday Hangout: Building Codes and Disasters

Mike Dugan and the panel regulars will talk with their guests about building codes and how proper building construction can mitigate the damage from natural…
Dena Ali

FDIC 2025 Preview: Organizational Leadership and Mental Wellness

This workshop delves into the essential role of leadership in supporting the mental health of first responders.