Alarm

In a world where disasters are omnipresent, director Judith Zdesar accompanies the volunteer firefighters of Wiener Neustadt in her documentary ALARM during operations, drills, and in the waiting time in between. The film offers an intimate, unvarnished insight into a world characterized by constant preparation for emergencies. Action cam footage allows us to experience the firefighters' work up close. The focus is not necessarily on spectacular images of the operations, but rather on the quiet struggle with the inevitability of danger, loss, and death. ALARM shows young volunteers confronting difficult situations for the first time and experienced emergency personnel who have already been through many traumatic events. The film highlights how they deal with difficult experiences and constant threats and questions how one can find stability in a fragile world where the unexpected can happen at any time. A cinematic look at the existential uncertainty of our time.