Award-winning filmmaker Ondi Timoner has transformed personal tragedy into art with her latest short documentary, All the Walls Came Down, which premieres Sunday. While preparing a project in Budapest, Timoner received devastating news: her Altadena home of 14 years burned down in a massive fire. Instead of retreating, she turned to her camera — continuing her lifelong practice of documenting life’s most difficult moments.
Timoner, best known for Last Flight Home, explained that filming helps her process trauma: “When I’m dealing with trauma, I record it, so I could, one day, possibly make something… make lemonade out of lemons.” Despite losing most of her archives, equipment, and personal belongings, she edited the film at remarkable speed, calling it the fastest project she has ever completed.
The documentary captures not only Timoner’s loss but also the devastation faced by her neighbors. She documents their struggles with insurance failures, underpayment, and the harsh realities of gentrification in West Altadena. Activist Heavenly Hughes of My Tribe Rise emphasizes systemic neglect: “You moved into a Black community, we’re not a priority.” While fire trucks protected wealthier nearby areas, Timoner’s neighborhood was left vulnerable.
Through interviews and raw footage, All the Walls Came Down shows how a community comes together amid destruction. Families who lost their homes and generational wealth are now fighting back, while residents lean on shared love for Altadena to rebuild. The title reflects both the literal destruction and the newfound solidarity: “Despite all this, you’ll see fresh growth… a community determined to maintain its integrity.”
Timoner intends to donate all profits from the film to support Altadena’s recovery efforts. The film will open for a qualifying run at the Glendale Laemmle on September 12, including a birthday celebration for Heavenly Hughes.
See More ...
All the Walls Came Down is not just a story of one director’s resilience, but a powerful testament to the climate crisis, inequality, and the human drive to rebuild.
Source: indiewire.com
