All the Fires (Spanish: Todos los incendios) is a 2023 Mexican romanticdrama film, written and directed by Mauricio Calderón Rico. The film stars Sebástian Rojano, Ximena Ayala, Ari Lopez, Natalia Quiroz, Hector Illanes, and Antonio Fortier. It premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2023, before a theatrical release throughout Mexico in 2024.
Synopsis
Bruno, a struggling teenage pyromaniac flees the city and embarks on a journey in quest of a girl he met online who would force him to confront the death of his father and his sexuality-related uncertainties.
Jennie Kermode of Eye for Film rated it 4.5/5 stars, and raved about the performances: "Sebástian Rojano's perfectly nuanced, natural performance conveys a character who is as yet untamed but, perhaps, wants to be, or is at any rate trying to find a way into a calmer and more structured existence." Rich Cline of Shadows on the Wall graded it 4/5 stars, while praising the cinematography: "With its shadowy photography and introspective tone, the film feels extremely intimate as it carefully explores Bruno's internalised journey."
Jason Flatt of But Why Tho? scored it 7/10 and commended Mauricio Calderón Rico's screenplay: "But its perspective on the resentment and lionization of parents is thought-provoking and its gentle journey through the benefits of one teen's increasing proximity to queerness is quite enthralling." Erick Estrada of Cinegarage lauded the genre: "Beyond the interesting and beautiful metaphoric play, all the ingredients of a coming-of-age movie are here."
