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:

Audrey Burke: What's heroin like?
Jerry Sunborne: Do you hear that expression being kissed by God?

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather: Part II (1974)

Soundtrack:

Black Napkins

Powerful Story and Performances

Went to a preview of this movie last night. I was blown away by the powerful performances of Benicio Del Torro and Halle Berry. Del Torro's performance was particularly moving - his best ever and Halle Berry definitely delivers. This is the story of a woman who appears to have been so invested in her husband as the center of her universe that when she tragically loses him, she turns to his best friend (who she has hated for years) to keep from losing her connection to her husband. In the course of events, she discovers the redeeming qualities her husband had always seen in him.

Del Torro gives a poignant performance of a drug addict who struggles to change his life after the loss of his best friend - with quiet dignity. A must see at least once. Although the movie is long, I can't imagine cutting one moment of this powerful story. Cinematically it's superb.

Everyone who knows anyone who has struggled with addiction will be gripped by the performance of Del Torro.