Independent Lens

Let the Fire Burn

On May 13, 1985, a longtime feud between the city of Philadelphia and controversial radical urban group MOVE came to a deadly climax. Using only archival news coverage and interviews, this film brings to life one of the most tumultuous and largely forgotten clashes between government and citizens in modern American history.

Coming Soon to Independent Lens: Let the Fire Burn

30s

Using archival news coverage and interviews, Let the Fire Burn brings to life one of the most tumultuous but largely forgotten clashes between government and citizens in modern U.S. history, as a longtime feud between Philadelphia police and the controversial urban group MOVE came to a tragic climax in 1985.

Previews + Extras

  • Let the Fire Burn: The Philosophy of MOVE: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Let the Fire Burn: The Philosophy of MOVE

    S15 E19 - 57s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Let the Fire Burn, former MOVE members Laverne Sims and Louise James tell the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission about the philosophy of MOVE and its leader John Africa, including “absolute truth” and “exposing the lie in the system.”

  • Let the Fire Burn: Philadelphia Special Investigation Commis: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Let the Fire Burn: Philadelphia Special Investigation Commis

    S15 E19 - 1m 1s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Let the Fire Burn, the Philadelphia Special Commission to investigate the tragic events of 1985 introduces the members of the multi-racial commission and how they, in Chairman William Brown’s words, “hope to accomplish healing the wounds.”

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