Father the Flame

In a small basement workshop in far Northern Michigan, master pipe maker Lee Erck loses himself in the dense grain of each pipe he creates, all the while counting on his work to last for generations. Brought to life in a stunning cinematic experience, this story speaks to a slower pace of life that weaves together a charming cast of characters. From the royal family of Danish pipe makers, to the Italian briar cutter known as the world’s greatest, to a fourth-generation Native American “peace pipe” maker, Father the Flame looks through the lens of the pipe to explore the the timeless values it seems to evoke. At once light hearted and deeply philosophical, the film immerses the viewer in a meditation on inheritance, family and the things we leave behind.