The Playing with FIRE documentary screened here in Boston last week. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I bought tickets via the Tugg platform and dragged brought my girlfriend along.
Not really sure what to expect, I knew FIRE and some of its voices, but little else. More pressing at the time though, we were lost.
Groups can host private screenings at various venues through Tugg. The Boston screening was held at a traditional, big name movie theater, but signage for a one-off was nonexistent. Coincidently and hilariously, a massive installation advertisement met us at the top of the escalators for the upcoming comedy movie with the same name, starring John Cena (yeah, like the wrestler dude, ha!).
After wandering about with silly looks on our faces no doubt, I nudged Ms. IS and whispered: “follow those nerds, they’ll show us the way.”
Like a charm.
High Level
The film details a young couple’s journey as they transform from big city spendthrifts to FIRE-style savers. From the outside, they have “everything they want” and they indeed love their San Diego Instagram lifestyle. Although they’re generally happy with this life, they realize it doesn’t bring them forward financially. They are treading water.
Inspired by FIRE concepts, Scott convinces Taylor to radically change their life. This experiment (and basis for the documentary) show their journey over twelve months. They choose to live with family and friends temporarily, as they plan and execute a relocation to a lower cost of living area.
Playing with FIRE introduces and explains the tenets of the FIRE community through the voices of its most recognized community members: its bloggers. The film concisely delivers the FIRE message, something which, although simple, can be challenging. It keeps the audience engaged with a nice balance between the “experts,” laying out its principles and the “amateurs,” struggling to find their own way.
Favorite Snippets
CR-V Scene:
There are many memorable moments, but I’ll share my favorites. In one scene, Taylor laments about her old BMW while driving her “new old” car, a Honda CR-V (I happen to drive the same car!). She describes her initial disappointment, her regret from parting with the luxury car and its features.
The CR-V is “…fine. It’s totally fine.” The words hang in the air. She’s emotionally conflicted, over the car of course, but also the greater decision to make such a drastic lifestyle change. The car, this thing, represents more than transportation. It’s a symbol of their new life and she doesn’t know exactly how she feels about it yet. It’s a raw moment.
The self-doubt hits a crescendo as they make their largest life and financial-related decision — their new home purchase. Taylor expresses this frustration in real time. Although they could afford a home at a certain price point, it would not be optimal, therefore they should avoid the purchase. She wonders out loud to the camera something along the lines of: “…what is the point of all this if it just ends up in hardship and sacrifice?”
A valid question. I think she’s putting her finger directly on an essential nerve.
It’s really about questioning what one values, how to live and what to care about… Pheww!
The big stuff…
YMOYL:
The film tips its cap to the FIRE community’s most lauded personalities, Vicki Robin, co-author of Your Money or Your Life, included. It was cool to see the old clips of her on the Oprah Winfrey Show back in the day, saying exactly the same stuff she’s saying now. The “I can always make more” construct crumbles away when one views money it terms of “life energy.” It drives home the point that it is a finite resource and to be respected as such. Perhaps a more nuanced, artful version of time is money.
The stately Robin explains these concepts as she’s interviewed against the backdrop of what appears to be a homestead. I was thinking they should have just turned it over to Vicki to talk about the spot! I’d watch that. Haha, but I guess that would have been a bit of a detour.
Brandon the Mad Fientist Scene
A bit staged maybe, but I did enjoy the early scene with Brandon from the Mad Fientist. In it, he gets into the weeds with the young couple, analyzing their budget and looking at proforma projections. Scott and Taylor contort their faces, furl eyebrows and guffaw as Brandon tweaks different inputs to manipulate their “FI date.”
“If you do X, Y and Z, you could retire blank years earlier than you would have, all other variables held constant. You know, that tune.
This is that “eye opening moment” many have when exposed to MMM’s Shockingly Simple Math or JL Collins’ stock series. No additional commentary necessary, thank you!
I think they do a good job of portraying that sentiment on film.
Mulling it Over
After the movie, we had about an hour to burn before picking up a pal at the airport. It provided a nice excuse to grab a beverage and discuss the film. I was surprised by Ms. IS’s reaction.
She really enjoyed it!
Scott and Taylor are relatable. Ms. IS reflected on that desire to keep up appearances. So many people feel pressured to act this way, maybe especially so in Southern California. My girlfriend lived there (nothing wrong with it, it’s a beautiful place!) for almost a decade and saw how easily some can get caught up in that.
I found myself relating to Scott’s background. A country boy that leaves home for the big city. Maybe some things that once seemed important lose their luster with time? Priorities change, focus may shift more outwardly towards others?
Pros
The film is beautifully produced. A high quality product, it does not come off as amateurish.
It doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of maintaining an extremely high savings rate. It’s not complex, but it’s not easy. They represent it objectively.
They define FIRE. Again, I think it can sometimes be a little tricky to explain the concept. It needs to click, to resonate, otherwise it may sound theoretical, unrealistic or maybe naive?
If the goal is to turn people on to the FIRE community/movement, or at least begin some dialogue, then I think they check that box.
It looked sold out, a full house. I’m sure many left FIRE’d up! Sorry, had to.
Cons
Pretty weak description of the investing side, the nuts and bolts. They roll out JL Collins for a hot minute to Bogle it up, but that’s really it. I’m not sure if this is even a con because it would be pretty dry if it was too technical. Also, the lazy, passive portfolio is generally preferred within the community, so I guess devoting time here isn’t fruitful. There is also a Wall Street cut scene montage that is, well, just silly. The grimace as if you just ate something sour type of silly.
They don’t get too much into Scott’s career stuff. They show him quitting some kind of job in his field, but nothing really about him starting his business. Granted, I guess his “job” was making the documentary (while doing the relocation and helping raise a child, of course!), but it sounded like there was more to tell there and it would have been neat to see some of the early entrepreneurial stuff. The FIRE community is known for its “side hustles” that, for many, evolve into full fledged businesses. I didn’t know if that is the case here.
The reality of the grind. This is a biggy I think. The FIRE community may be criticized for whitewashing the reality of socking away dough for years or decades to achieve the lofty goal of early retirement. The film suggests a solution: community. It discusses Camp Mustache and how, through community and seeking out like-minded people to share, collaborate (and commiserate?) is a means to keep one on the path to FI.
This reality, I think, relates to other criticism that call out FIRE’s “culty-ness,” or even arrogance, as some may suggest. I don’t think I have a fully developed opinion here, nor do I care to have one, but… My knee jerk reaction is that I believe the best voices within the community are the people that genuinely get pumped to talk about FIRE and genuinely believe that living with less is a wonderful way to live and raise a family.
But, I think it must be said that one person’s passion may be another person’s browbeating. People generally don’t like being told how to live and they certainly don’t like to be told they’re doing something wrong. I think there is room for sharing ideas, without admonishments, while maintaining that original passion.
Conclusion
After zipping over to Logan to pick up the pal, small talk led to a conversation about the movie. We found ourselves in the position of explaining FIRE. This time I kept my mouth shut and let Ms. IS jump on the grenade. After doing a pretty decent job with the elevator pitch version, I thought, the pal responded: “So you mean, like, buying a bunch of real estate and renting it out or something?”
“Oh, boy. Here we go.” I thought.
