Academy Award® winners Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro star in director Susanne Bier’s (the Oscar®-nominated “After the Wedding”) powerful new drama “Things We Lost in the Fire,” a moving and emotionally compelling drama about two people brought together by fate. Audrey Burke (Berry) is reeling from the shock of the news that has just been delivered to her door by the local police: her warm and loving husband Brian (David Duchovny), the father of their two young children, has been killed in a random act of violence.Once anchored by the love and comforts of their 11-year marriage, Audrey is now adrift. Impulsively, she turns to Jerry Sunborne (Del Toro), a down-and-out addict who has been her husband’s close friend since childhood. Desperate to fill the painful void caused by her husband’s death, Audrey invites Jerry to move into the room adjacent to their garage in the hope that he can help her and her children cope with their sudden loss. Jerry is facing a daily battle to stay off drugs, but in his unexpected role as surrogate parent and friend to Audrey’s son and daughter he finds a core of inner resilience. As Jerry and Audrey navigate grief and denial, their fragile bonds are constantly tested. Working together, however, they discover the strength to move forward. DreamWorks Pictures Presents A Neal Street Production “Things We Lost in the Fire” starring Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alison Lohman, Omar Benson Miller and John Carroll Lynch. The film is directed by Susanne Bier and written by Allan Loeb. The producers are Sam Mendes and Sam Mercer. The executive producers are Pippa Harris and Allan Loeb. The director of photography is Tom Stern. The production designer is Richard Sherman. The film is edited by Pernille Bech Christensen and Bruce Cannon, A.C.E. The costumes are designed by Karen Matthews. Themes are by Gustavo Santaolalla. The score is by Johan Söderqvist. The music supervisor is Susan Jacobs. The film has been rated R for drug content and language.
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"Anyone who has struggled with addiction will be gripped by the performance by Benicio Del Toro"
There has been a growing trend recently, where the films are based on everyday events. I think Tom Hanks said it best when he said in the recent Charlie Wilson's War press conference 'I think you could make an interesting film about building a bridge if you tell it right'.
This is true of the latest offering from producer Sam Mendes and director Susanne Bier, 'Things We Lost In The Fire' is a heart wrenching look at how a family deals with the pain and emptiness of the loss of a loved one, at first, I thought Brian was killed in a fire, hence the title but through flash backs it shows how he was killed.
Halle Berry is extraordinary as Audrey Burke, a widow and mother of two who slowly comes to terms with the tragic loss of her husband Brian Burke (David Duchovny); shot dead for helping a victim of brutal domestic violence. Benecio Del Toro's performance as Jerry Sunborne is equally great. Following his best friend's death Jerry accepts an invitation to move in with Audrey and the kids - Dory (Micah Berry) and Harper (Alexis Llewellyn). Both children play their roles beautifully, reacting to the new element in their lives and welcoming him with open arms. In fact, they get so attached to the recovering Heroine addict that Harper calls him a "pretend dad". A fellow former junkie, Kelly (Alison Lohman) helps the family along with their grief, sharing some insights into her own loss and helping the family 'remember the good' by remembering Brian as he was.
Things We Lost In The Fire, is a slow moving film with steady character building. It is heart felt to watch with an underlying strong message, which comes out towards the end when Brian says was 'these are just things, at least we have each other'.
Anyone who knows anyone who has struggled with addiction will be gripped by the performance by Benicio Del Toro. This could be one of the best films of the year, (and it's only January!) I give this film two thumbs up for its incredible realism and thought provoking idea, which are ultimately real and heart felt by all.
