Tornado Fever Sweeps the Nation

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The tornado, as depicted in Dorothy’s hometown during the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” and later in the 1996 film “Twister” starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, has been a recurring theme in American cinema. Continuing this legacy, filmmaker Curtis Miller contributes with his comprehensive documentary titled “A Brief History of Chasing Storms,” delving into the fascinating world of tornadoes.

In the debut at the Swiss documentary festival Visions du Réel, Miller’s movie delves into the folklore surrounding tornados, taking a road trip through the American Midwest’s “Tornado Alley” as its backdrop. By visiting various towns in the area and interviewing locals with a passion for tornados, the filmmaker weaves together the story of the country’s history with that of the weather phenomenon. In an exclusive chat with EbMaster prior to the global launch, Miller shares his lifelong fascination with tornados, stemming from growing up in Oklahoma, a region frequently struck by these storms.

The director expresses his fascination with tornadoes’ distinctive visual history, “noting that they are extensively documented and visually captivating,” he says. Due to this intriguing relationship, he found himself contemplating it frequently. After the pandemic subsided in 2021, he dedicated approximately three weeks to on-site visits and research. He chose to keep an open mind about the film’s direction, so he returned during the summer months for three consecutive years, even participating in some storm-chasing activities himself.

The director shares his intrigue towards tornadoes’ unique visual history, stating that they are well-documented and visually striking, which led to much contemplation. In 2021, following the pandemic, he invested around three weeks in site visits and research. He aimed to stay flexible about where the film might develop, so he continued his visits during peak storm seasons for the next three summers, even taking part in storm-chasing adventures himself.

One major factor motivating Miller to undertake the project was the opportunity to explore broader historical queries about the formation of the United States, starting from the perspective of a tornado event. As the director explains, “This subject matter could potentially help viewers recognize the effects of settler colonialism and housing segregation.” The director further adds that history is complex and tangled, with Woodward, Oklahoma, serving as an example. There, large, colorful murals depicted the colonial past of the region in the Cherokee Strip. These land runs were enacted by high school students until recently as part of a founding myth.

Another angle to consider is examining the connection between tornadoes and popular culture, a topic that Miller hadn’t initially linked with when he started crafting “A Brief History of Chasing Storms.” Interestingly enough, at the time, Miller wasn’t aware of Lee Isaac Chung’s sequel to the 1996 hit, “Twisters,” titled simply “Twisters: The Aftermath.” However, there is an intriguing coincidence between the two films – Matt, who is the storm chaser in Miller’s documentary, provided his renowned storm-chasing van (a converted taxi cab) for Chung’s film production. This vehicle makes a brief appearance in one of the scenes.

In a scene at a motel, there’s a quick glimpse of his vehicle, and Miller playfully suggests that he’s more thrilled about those fleeting moments in the movie compared to the entire chapter dedicated to him in another story. He finds it amusing.

At one stage, the film director contemplated producing a movie centered around the culture of storm chasing itself, but he felt that much of it had already been delved into. However, what intrigued him was learning more about how films like “Twister” and “The Wizard of Oz” have significantly impacted and molded the storm-chasing community.

In the course of my studies, I discovered that these well-known movies significantly influenced the beginnings of storm chaser origin stories. These individuals are deeply committed to their work, and find it gratifying to see themselves portrayed in a cinematic context like that provided by Hollywood. Although the culture was present before the movie, ‘Twister’ transformed the perception people had of being a storm chaser. When I spoke with chasers, I found they all identified strongly with certain characters from ‘Twister’, using these figures as a way to define themselves.

On the other hand, there is a current feeling of apprehension when delving into the history of tornadoes, particularly with the influence of global warming on extreme weather in mind. Miller, who hails from an area where tornado warnings were frequent, observes his friends from less storm-prone regions of the country becoming increasingly anxious about climate change.

The filmmaker states that individuals who hail from areas with less predictable weather conditions may harbor genuine concerns about escalating climate unpredictability. One aspect that intrigued the filmmaker was not just how we’ll adapt to such a framework, but also how people are already coping in these situations. Given that residents of these regions have been exposed to extreme weather conditions for some time now, the filmmaker wanted to explore how they have managed to endure in this challenging environment.

The director brings up the ongoing discussion about whether Tornado Alley is moving towards the East or expanding in size. “There’s an idea circulating that storms may become less common but could grow more intense,” he says, adding that it’s alarming to learn that winds are now reaching speeds of up to 300 miles per hour. “Few structures can withstand such force. How do we prepare ourselves for such a potential future?

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2025-04-09 23:18