International Firefighters' Day is May 4, a day to celebrate the brave men and women who risk their lives every day to save other people's lives and property. People around the world are asked to wear blue and red ribbons to remember firefighters who died while serving communities, as well as those who continue to protect communities every day.
Here is a look at some movies to watch on International Firefighters' Day.
"Ladder 49"
Jay Russell directs "Ladder 49," a movie that pays tribute to real firefighters who lost their lives while protecting people. Starring John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix, Russell said "everything in the movie in one form or fashion is based on a true story."
Phoenix stars as Jack, a Baltimore firefighter trapped in a building after saving a man's life. Travolta stars as his mentor and chief, determined to get into the dangerous structure and save his man. The movie then cuts back and forth from the intense situation in the burning building to the important moments in Jack's life leading up to this point.
"Backdraft"
Kurt Russell and William Baldwin star as Chicago firefighting brothers in "Backdraft." Russell is Stephen, a very good firefighter always attempting to get to the most dangerous part of the fire to beat it. Baldwin is his younger brother, a firefighter with less experience who wants to escape his brother's shadow. Meanwhile, a politician wants to cut funding for the departments at the same time an arsonist starts burning down buildings.
Ron Howard directs the movie, and while the story itself is nothing new, the fire effects are amazing. George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic worked to make sure that the fire effects, if nothing else, make the viewer feel like they are in the burning buildings. "Backdraft" is a movie that stands the test of time when it comes to making the inferno a character in and of itself.
"Frequency"
Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel star in "Frequency," a sci-fi film about a father and son connecting through a short wave radio years after the father died fighting a fire. Caviezel is John, a police officer trying to track down a murderer, when he finds the radio and comes in contact with his long dead father, Frank (Quaid). John uses the radio to warn his father of the fire that would cost him his life, but after saving him, realizes he has caused more harm than good.
The movie does not rely heavily on the occupation of firefighters but does show how the dangers of fighting a fire can affect a family, even years down the line.
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