PopSyndicate.com

Susanne Bier makes her trip across the Atlantic for the film ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’, starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Torro. Bier’s film is a hard look at how forces beyond our control can affect us in both positive and negative ways. A strong script and solid performances by the cast makes ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ an easy recommendation.

The film opens as Audrey Burke (Berry) begins making preparations for her husband’s funeral. Brian Burke (played by David Duchovny) is a loving father and a devoted husband who dies under rather tragic circumstances. Audrey is left with a house full of memories, two children without a father and no sense of what her new life will entail or if she’s even up for it.

Enter Jerry Sunborne, (Del Toro) Brian’s oldest friend who happens to be a heroin addict. The relationship between Audrey and Jerry is strained due to Jerry’s drug use, but the two manage to put aside their differences in the mourning of their joint loss. Audrey has lost a husband while Jerry has lost the one person who refused to give up on him. During a moment of personal grief and desperation Audrey extends a helping hand to Jerry in his fight to get clean and honor the memory of his lost friend. Together they explore the lows of addiction, bereavement and the perils of hopelessness.

As Jerry begins to get his footing, he finds a special place in the hearts of his best friend’s children, Harper and Dory.  Living in an extension of the house, Jerry carefully walks the line between putting himself in the lives of this family while not encroaching on the memory of Brian.  At some points the dance is too close for Audrey to handle as she wrestles with the inevitable reality of the family moving on.

The story is told with a mix of current day and flash back scenes to help flesh out the relationship the main characters shared with Brian. The cuts are done well and the Brian character serves as an anchor for the viewer as far as timeline is concerned, easing you between transitions so that you don’t become confused. This is a common problem in poorly crafted flashback scenes but it is handled skillfully by Bier and her editing team Pernile Bech Christenesen and Bruce Cannon.

The performances in the film are strong, particularly from Del Torro and Berry. Halle Berry’s presence in the current day scenes indicate her emotional state. Everything from her eyes, mannerisms and even her posture are committed to delivering to the viewer the image of a woman who has been devastated. Only when contrasted with the flashback scenes of her, madly in love and full of joy, do we get the complete picture of how much Brian’s death has shaken Audrey.

Del Torro is equally strong. His depiction of a recovering heroin addict in an environment that he doesn’t belong in is not only believable, but it really has you rooting for not just his recovery but for the white picket fence ending. Duchovny, exclusively scene through flashbacks, is neither a boon nor a detriment to the piece. Duchovny gives you the exact performance you would expect from him. (I mean, have you SEEN X-Files?)

While I enjoyed the film immensely I will give one item of caution to potential viewers. This movie is very much a character driven story. There is no overarching plot that the story is racing to find a conclusion to. It’s the story of two people struggling to find themselves in a new reality. If you’re the type who likes to know the heroes are rushing towards an end, than this film may not be for you. Otherwise I say head to your video store and give this a view. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

4