Fireworks are an integral part of America’s culture, from the earliest days when gunpowder technology made it to Europe. European monarchs were quick to adopt the fireworks, and pyrotechnic displays became a major event in their cities and palaces. The American Revolution was no exception, and the new nation embraced fireworks as a fitting way to celebrate this unprecedented achievement.

Today, fireworks are more of a cottage industry than a thriving industry, but fireworks are still an important part of celebrations across the country and around the world. Many families continue to manufacture fireworks, and they do so with pride. Some of them are even known for their dazzling fireworks displays during events such as festivals and Fourth of July parades.

This fascinating documentary from German filmmaker Viktor Jakovleski takes viewers into one family’s cottage fireworks business, introducing us to the man behind the scenes, preteen son Santiago. The film follows Santiago as he learns both the beauty and the danger of the family trade from his father and grandfather. Santiago is cautious and afraid of the risks involved, but he is completely taken by the thrill and beauty of a billion exploding sparks.

Unlike the brash and over-the-top pyrotechnics in Hollywood blockbusters, this is an intimate look at a traditional family business and festival. This surprisingly touching and thoughtful documentary is worth watching.

The Black Bull Fireworks slot machine was developed by Pragmatic Play, and it is a bit of a step up from their underwhelming Treasure Wild in terms of graphics and gameplay. The game has a Wild West, US prairie feel to it, and the graphics are very sharp and clear. The game is played on a 5-reel, 4-row, 20 payline grid. The game’s symbols include bulls, money, and various fireworks.

Each time a bull symbol lands on the screen, it awards the player with a prize ranging from 0.5 to 50 times the bet amount. Each money symbol also collects the value of any wilds that are in view. The wilds will also substitute for all other symbols to create winning combinations.

Ray Hitt’s factory remained open during the Great Depression, and he even started to produce military-related items such as aerial smoke flares and parachutes that helped camouflage Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. However, in the late 1960s he was forced to close the company when a tax bill came due that he couldn’t afford. Ray Hitt died in 1998 at age 92.