Things We Lost in the Fire (2007)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writer (WGA):

Allan Loeb (written by)

Release Date:

19 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Hope comes with letting go.

Plot:

A recent widow invites her husband's troubled best friend to live with her and her two children. As he gradually turns his life around, he helps the family cope and confront their loss.

Plot Keywords:

Narcotics Anonymous | Addiction | Best Friend | Garage | Grief

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Halle Berry	...	Audrey Burke
Benicio Del Toro	...	Jerry Sunborne
David Duchovny	...	Brian Burke
Alexis Llewellyn	...	Harper Burke
Micah Berry	...	Dory Burke
John Carroll Lynch	...	Howard Glassman
Alison Lohman	...	Kelly
Robin Weigert	...	Brenda
Omar Benson Miller	...	Neal
Paula Newsome	...	Diane
Sarah Dubrovsky	...	Spring
Maureen Thomas	...	Grandma Ginnie Burke
Patricia Harras	...	Howard's Wife
V.J. Foster	...	Distressed Man (as VJ Foster)
Caroline Field	...	Teresa Haddock (as Carolyn Field)

MPAA:

Rated R for drug content and language.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:15A | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | UK:15 | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | USA:R (No. 43485) | Netherlands:12 | Taiwan:R-18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:12 | South Korea:15 | France:Unrated | Norway:11 | Sweden:7 | Japan:PG-12 | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:M | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Kitsilano, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

DreamWorks Pictures

Trivia:

Release prints were shipped to some theaters under the fake title "Water".

Quotes:

Harper Burke: Why is Grandma sleeping all day?
Audrey Burke: She's sedated.
Harper Burke: I don't know what that means, Mom.
Audrey Burke: She's taking pills to help her sleep. She lost her son, Harper. That's the worst pain anyone can go through.
Harper Burke: Worse than losing your dad?

Movie Connections:

References E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Soundtrack:

X-Altation

They don't get any better than this...

Rather than offering the usual trite "Make Sure You Don't Miss This Film" I will simply say, "Don't Bother Watching Anything Else In 2008"

Having worked as a drug councilor back in the early 70s I can assure you that this stunning film doesn't just get it right when it comes to the horrors of heroin addiction it provides powerful hints as to the best way for an addict to make good his escape! Anyone working in the field would do well to buy the movie and watch it over and over and over. NA might also put it to good use within its groups.

But this flick is much, much more than a primer on drug addiction. It is simply one of the most moving and motivating flicks I've ever seen on the potential for creative change achievable through the decidedly Low Tech technique of people realizing that in the end the Bell Tolls Today for us all. Better yet it illustrates beautifully and with great emotional impacting the almost unbelievable potential inherent in the process of one and all

working towards something a bit larger than making selfish self come true.

My hat is off to everyone involved in this stunning piece of work! Brilliant script, brilliant directing, brilliant acting and some of the most innovative and creative camera work that I've every had the joy of experiencing!