Things We Lost in the Fire (***)
Directed by: Susanne Bier
Starring: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny
Seen: February 24th 2008
*** Out of ****
I must say this film gave me a quick and lasting punch to the gut. What a beautiful story this is. The story is quite simple, there are three characters around whom the film revolves, and not a big variety of sets. And still the emotional intensity here was something quite impressive.
Let me first note that I have absolutely no love for Halle Berry, not a bit. After making such a scene at the (in my eyes very loaded) Academy Awards after her win for Monster’s Ball, any admiration I felt for her simply vanished. And this was the big thing I was worried about when going to see this film. It is, however, safe to say that she disappears so completely into this role that you don’t even notice it’s her. Same goes for Benicio Del Toro, who plays a recovering heroin addict with true brilliance.
Audrey (Berry) has lost her husband, Brian (Duchovny), in a senseless murder, and a few days before the funeral she realises that she needs to invite her husband’s best friend Jerry (Del Toro). She also invites Jerry to stay in her home in an attempt to fill the void, as well as to assist Jerry with his hopeless situation. Jerry is a recovering heroin addict, and it becomes increasingly difficult for Audrey to cope with his presence in the house, since she never approved of him, and he is now becoming a part of the home, adored by her two children.
She never could understand her husband’s continued friendship with Jerry, since Brian would just up and leave some nights and join Jerry on the streets or in the slums where he lived. Initially this makes her a bit of a nuisance, since her attitude towards Jerry seems a bit too aggressive, with not a smidgeon of empathy for him. What makes her performance so powerful here is that she manages to turn that around in a believable way towards acceptance.
Del Toro mightily impresses as Jerry, the decent, soft-hearted heroin addict. He does not want sympathy or help, he feels he deserves what he’s getting. His actions though, kind of demand help, and this becomes more apparent through the way he warms to the children and they to him, even through his addiction. That must be why Brian and Jerry were such great friends, and why Brian refused to give up on him. His continual good-natured manner is overshadowed by a sense that he has given up on beating his addiction, and this breaks the viewers’ heart, because we feel that Brian might have been Jerry's last chance.
Starring: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny
Seen: February 24th 2008
*** Out of ****
I must say this film gave me a quick and lasting punch to the gut. What a beautiful story this is. The story is quite simple, there are three characters around whom the film revolves, and not a big variety of sets. And still the emotional intensity here was something quite impressive.
Let me first note that I have absolutely no love for Halle Berry, not a bit. After making such a scene at the (in my eyes very loaded) Academy Awards after her win for Monster’s Ball, any admiration I felt for her simply vanished. And this was the big thing I was worried about when going to see this film. It is, however, safe to say that she disappears so completely into this role that you don’t even notice it’s her. Same goes for Benicio Del Toro, who plays a recovering heroin addict with true brilliance.
Audrey (Berry) has lost her husband, Brian (Duchovny), in a senseless murder, and a few days before the funeral she realises that she needs to invite her husband’s best friend Jerry (Del Toro). She also invites Jerry to stay in her home in an attempt to fill the void, as well as to assist Jerry with his hopeless situation. Jerry is a recovering heroin addict, and it becomes increasingly difficult for Audrey to cope with his presence in the house, since she never approved of him, and he is now becoming a part of the home, adored by her two children.
She never could understand her husband’s continued friendship with Jerry, since Brian would just up and leave some nights and join Jerry on the streets or in the slums where he lived. Initially this makes her a bit of a nuisance, since her attitude towards Jerry seems a bit too aggressive, with not a smidgeon of empathy for him. What makes her performance so powerful here is that she manages to turn that around in a believable way towards acceptance.
Del Toro mightily impresses as Jerry, the decent, soft-hearted heroin addict. He does not want sympathy or help, he feels he deserves what he’s getting. His actions though, kind of demand help, and this becomes more apparent through the way he warms to the children and they to him, even through his addiction. That must be why Brian and Jerry were such great friends, and why Brian refused to give up on him. His continual good-natured manner is overshadowed by a sense that he has given up on beating his addiction, and this breaks the viewers’ heart, because we feel that Brian might have been Jerry's last chance.
I am thankfull that the obligatory romance does not rear its head here, because that would have ruined this film. There is absolutely no reason for them to end up together, and Bier realised this before even attempting to make this movie.
These characters are truly well-rounded, with genuine emotion being awakened by each. At times we really forget about each character’s weaknesses, Audrey’s harshness, Jerry’s addiction, and we really come to care about the characters. Things we Lost in the Fire is an inspiring film. If only all of us could be like Jerry; apart from the addiction, that is.
These characters are truly well-rounded, with genuine emotion being awakened by each. At times we really forget about each character’s weaknesses, Audrey’s harshness, Jerry’s addiction, and we really come to care about the characters. Things we Lost in the Fire is an inspiring film. If only all of us could be like Jerry; apart from the addiction, that is.
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Delia