User reviews

The 1973 arson of the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans was the deadliest day for LGBT people in America until the massacre at Pulse. During a beer bust on Sunday, June 24, 1973, someone soaked the wooden staircase to the lounge in lighter fluid and set it ablaze.The fire trapped around half of the patrons, who couldn't make it to an exit. And now Upstairs Inferno reminds us all of the darkest day in gay history in America, a day that all Americans should never forget when 32 lives were lost. Thank you Robert Camina for bringing this film to life and sharing the history of that day at 141 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.

For those lucky enough to see this film, it details a truly heartbreaking moment in time for New Orleans, and the Gay Community at large. Anyone, regardless of whether you identify as part of the gay community will be moved by the stories told here. Robert Camina, the director, obviously has a tremendous amount of respect for the people who were directly affected by this tragic fire. At no point does the film feel sensationalize or exploitative, rather it is like going to a reunion with new friends, whose story can only be told by those who were there.

Living in Australia, I had little understanding or knowledge of this event. I saw the documentary at a film festival in Sydney and was amazed this hasn't been publicized more widely. This was truly a harrowing event for those involved and for a generation that followed. The gay and lesbian community may be a tight knit one but most have probably never heard of this terrible tragedy. This documentary goes beyond the GBLTI community and should be remembered by the wider community so it can never happen again. The more people that see this and understand just what these people have gone through, not just during, but the continued lingering effects afterwards, may realise that there is still a hatred in the world that doesn't belong. It doesn't hit you with a punch but builds into something that you will remember and hopefully support in the long term, not the short.

Looks like the internet trolls have attacked this film for being in the LGBT category (which is an IMDb problem). Always something with the alt-right losers.

You can see the number of wins that this film has won over the last year. I have seen it three times... Camina seems in total control of his canvas... every frame captures a moment - the silences are intense.. and we are allowed into the heart of this movie.

Camina is in his element with gay documentaries. If you haven't seen his first - Raid of the Rainbow Lounge, it's another intense documentary.

Upstairs Inferno tells an important story through a cohesive, supported narrative. Considerate references maintain courtesy in respect to all parties involved while causal and temporal links weave a thought-provoking pattern of LGBTQ treatment and this community's seemingly complicated responses, whether logical, reasonable or simply justifiable. Specific attention is given to the evolving complexity of mental states as they seek to attempt resolution where none can be found. Technically speaking, the sound quality and camera work lend to the story and the music is not distracting. Editing must have been a difficult process as I was left wanting more - not more information just haunted in a way. This led me to seek additional stories involving others' rights. Today's political climate demands that specific attention be paid to gay, et al. rights. Why? The LGBTQ community has historically been treated as second class citizens, or worse. The only way to improve treatment and earn truly equal rights is to highlight this history and take action on definitive mistreatment, via target or omission, as a unified group. Many LGBTQ individuals don't understand the need for organized support as they are ignorant of historic facts - hence the need for thoughtful documentaries. Gay lives matter - not more than other lives - though the improvement of the dignity of LGBTQ does matter more than many established groups that already receive full rights and fair treatment. This documentary is a must-see - not preachy but inspiring and certainly motivating.

Prior to the Orlando shooting in 2016, the fire at the Upstairs Lounge was the worst mass murder of LGBTQ people...and it's a story that few even in the community know.

Dallas filmmaker Robert L. Camina (of Raid on the Rainbow Lounge fame) recounts the story of the friendly New Orleans gay bar and the night that ended in a devastating fire. He makes us care about the victims. He interviews survivors, family members and those who fought to bring recognition to the event for what it was: a brutal, horrific MURDER of innocent people.

In short, a top notch documentary!

At a time when the rights of many American Citizens were still being denied or challenged, a gay nightclub was intentionally set afire. That would have been horrific enough, but how the community reacted was even more chilling. the story of those who died, those who survived and the effects it had on community and family will leave the viewer heartbroken, aghast and incredulous. It was at the time, and until recently, the largest gay mass murder in history. The film does remind us how far we have come, but in light of recent events, it also reminds us how far we have to go. This is a story ripped right from the headlines and yet, one very few people know about. Camina takes a difficult subject and reveals the truth of what happened to human beings, who had simply gone out for a night of fun with friends.

I saw this at a film festival in Seattle and was moved to tears. The story told wasn't one that I had heard of before, and it's terrifying to think that one man could hold the lives of so many people in his hands simply because of self-hatred. The story moves swiftly, and the testimonials are gripping. You feel like you're reliving the moments of the blaze just like they were. The direction is well done and smart and doesn't devolve into schmaltz or cheap tricks. Clever and sensitive. Overall, an excellent movie and one very well worth watching. The context is especially moving now that the massacre at the Pulse nightclub has occurred. Very moving and worth all the stars.

I remember as a child this tragedy spoken about in whispers. I was glad to to see this film and learn the truth about those who lost their lives. The film presents the victims as human beings, and gives powerful insight into nature of prejudice. A beautifully emotional film

A powerful story otherwise lost to history. Very well-made and moving. Detailed survivor accounts and the context of the times in which this tragedy took place, add so much to the story being told by the director. And important page out of the book of man's inhumanity to man.

Another great historical LGBT film from Robert L. Camina. A great follow up to "Raid on the Rainbow Lounge". Both films put a human face on faceless tragedies. A well thought out mix of historical records and images with interviews of Survivors and those who supported them. The film is even more important now because of the Pluse Nightclub shootings. Troy Perry's comments at the end, about hoping to never having to experience this again has real meaning now. A must see film for all those interested in LGBT activism and it's history.

This catastrophe is fully documented through vintage footage and contemporary interviews with survivors and loved ones of the deceased. The director has constructed a moving memorial to those who perished in this deadliest of all New Orleans fires. The film is tragedy on an epic scale: first because of the innocent productive lives extinguished with no warning and secondly because of the apathy shown by many of the community's religious and political leaders toward gay people at the time. (There are also two comprehensive books on the disaster which memorialize the lives of the victims, explain the social and political mindset of New Orleans at the time, and theorize the cause of the fire.) Mr. Camina is to be congratulated for this wonderful documentary.

A heartbreaking account of the horrifying fire in a gay bar is very well produced with rare archive footage and photos. This is history that needs to be told. So many people (including myself) had no idea that this fire had occurred. Though uncomfortable to watch it's a MUST SEE for LGBTQ history.

An amazing and emotionally moving film about a terrible historical event that holds up a realistic mirror to bigotry, homophobia, and terror.

Intimate interviews with relatives, survivors, and even city officials help tell the story in a very personal way without being contrived.

The film also provides some optimism in the form of positive steps that can be taken to help overcome some of the attitudes that motivated the perpetrators.

I have met the producer, Robert Camina, at events and he is a truly gifted and passionate filmmaker who I hope will be with us for a very long time.

I learned so much from this must see documentary. The stories told in this show are intense and moving. I love New Orleans and visit often and didn't know of this historic event until seeing this doc. Everyone needs to see this documentary.

One of the most compelling documentaries I've ever watched. The pictures of the event, while graphic and horrifying, accurately depicted the extent of the incident. Also, it is unfortunately accurate that the officials at that time had no interest in dealing with a situation properly when it was about "those people". I've met Robert Camina in person and I admire greatly his dedication to his craft.

I've had the opportunity to this film at FilmOut San Diego, the Annual LGBT Film Festival, and several times now that I have purchased my own copy. This is an important well-researched documentary of a tragic event in our LGBT History. What impressed me the most was the sensitivity given to the survivors, their loved ones and to the victims. I highly recommend "Upstairs Inferno" to all who want to learn more about a tragic event - the largest murder in our community - prior to Pulse.

This film was shown at the LGBT Film Festival in Little Rock. I had no knowledge of this story. I am so glad that I was able to see this movie as often we forget about how we got to the point where we are now. Even now there is still a long ways to go. This movie was fantastic and I urge everyone to see it.

I have been waiting for a long while to see this film and I will say it was well worth the wait. I was engrossed in the film from the moment it began until it ended. This is a finely tuned and detailed account of the Upstairs Lounge fire in New Orleans in 1973. Robert L. Camina has taken this story and presented it to the world so that we all may understand the depth of loss and suffering this tragedy caused. I highly recommend this film not only for LGBTQ, but for everyone. There is a lot of history contained in this film and a lot to learn about loving one another. Congratulations to Mr. Camina for a job well done! Don't miss this...

I heard of a play here in NYC, based on a book. I was shocked I never heard of this tragedy. After purchasing and reading the book, I was very intrigued by this movie. The movie does not disappoint. It's very important to remember our past and how we were treated as lower class citizens. How we rise and continue to fight. Films of this nature that tell the stories of our past struggles are vital. Excellent documentary.