Directed by Ben Richardson, Smoke, Embers, Ash is the story of a young man named Ethan (Rashaan Rondo) who attends a support meeting for people coping with trauma. Nervous and introspective, Ethan hesitates but takes the bold step to speak first. He shares that as a child, he survived a fire, and the memories continue to haunt him.
Ethan speaks in a poetic tone; his soul is heavy with regret as he describes his trauma like luggage he carries everywhere. Among the others in the room is Bear (Damon Waters), the leader of the group and a former firefighter who listens intently, offering a quiet strength that Ethan struggles to accept.
After the meeting, Ethan goes back to his apartment. As night falls, he prays for release from the torment of his memories, calling out to God or any higher power that might hear him. Overwhelmed, Ethan drifts into a dreamlike state where he reverts to the frightened child trapped in the blaze from his past.
“…he reverts to the frightened child trapped in the blaze from his past.”
There is a beauty in the tragic story detailed in Smoke, Embers, Ash. He speaks in spoken-word poetry to describe his feelings and the moment, as well as the obstacles that keep him from progressing forward, to the point where Ethan’s pain becomes a prison. Then there is the presence of Bear, who gives a name to Ethan’s “demon,” which is PTSD. Once you know what you’re facing, you know where to take the next step.
Filmmaker Richardson captures the emotion of the piece so well, thanks to the fantastic performance he gets from his lead, Rashaan Rondo. You feel every moment and, in turn, root for Ethan to break free. Richardson also sets the tone of his film perfectly with his use of dark tones and shadows.
Smoke, Embers, Ash is a poetic essay on the lasting scars of trauma and the courage it takes to face them, and the importance of having support along the way.
For more information about Smoke, Embers, Ash, visit the film’s Instagram page at @smokeembersash.
"…tragic...poetic..."
