Things We Lost in the Fire - R

Story of death and redemption too much for kids.

Rating: R for drug content and language. Studio: Paramount Pictures Directed By: Susanne Bier Cast: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny Running Time: 119 minutes Release Date: 10/19/2007 Genre: Drama

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this emotional drama isn't likely to appeal to kids or teens. The director is Danish and relatively unknown to American audiences, and despite Halle Berry's popularity, the trailer and ads clearly highlight the mature dramatic themes -- which include death, murder, drug addiction, and grief. Several scenes show Benicio Del Toro's character doing (or already high on) heroin and Berry's widowed character sobbing. The language is strong (and includes "f--k," "s--t," and more), but it's not excessive, particularly taken in the context of the movie's powerful emotions.

Families can talk about loyalty and friendship. How is Brian an example of unconditional friendship to Jerry? How does Jerry help Audrey move forward -- and vice-versa? The movie's Danish director, Susanne Bier, is known for her naturalistic, realistic style. Is it obvious that the movie wasn't made by a mainstream American filmmaker? Why or why not? How do movies and TV shows reflect the culture that produces them?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Sandie Angulo Chen

Danish director Susanne Bier is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, best known for films about family crises, death, and all the tiny moments that make us all human. In THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE, Bier's first English-language film, she brings her decidedly European sensibilities to a drama starring A-list Hollywood actors Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro. The big surprise is that, like 2006's Babel, the mix of foreign direction and familiar stars works.

As the movie opens, Audrey Burke (Berry) is grieving the senseless death of her loving, loyal, successful husband Brian (David Duchovny). She realizes in a panic that she's forgotten to inform Brian's best friend, Jerry (Del Toro), who's a heroin junkie. From his first moment on screen, Del Toro clearly owns the film. He tells Brian's kids: "Your father was my best friend. When we were kids, and last week." It quickly becomes clear that Jerry knew and loved Brian as much as Audrey did, and she somewhat impulsively asks him to come live in her empty garage.

Jerry begins to help Audrey heal, although the story makes it clear that you never fully heal or recover from a loved one's death. He persuades Audrey and Brian's reluctant son, Dory (Micah Berry), to immerse his entire head under water and plays one-on-one basketball with older sister Harper (Alexis Llewellyn). In return, Audrey, her kids, her brother (Omar Benson Miller), and even good friend (John Carroll Lynch) convince Jerry to quit using -- as much for the late Brian as for Jerry himself.

Del Toro's incredible ability to modulate his intensity level, coupled with Bier's flawless way of capturing small, intimate moments, helps Things We Lost in the Fire transcend the sentimentality that can weigh down stories about loss. Although he makes fewer films than he could, Oscar winner Del Toro is revelatory. While some of Berry's performance, especially the sobbing, seems borrowed from her own Academy Award-winning Monster's Ball role, Del Toro makes Jerry -- a man of few words but many expressions -- new and distinct from his previous heartbreaking characters.

Some audiences may find it hard to sit through a film without an obvious ending, but thanks to foreign-born filmmakers, American moviegoers are slowly realizing that you don't always have to have a happy ending to have a satisfying film.

Families who enjoy heavy-hitting dramas may also like Del Toro's 21 Grams, Monster's Ball, and Bier's After the Wedding.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Audrey and Brian kiss, fool around, and embrace in bed before going to sleep.
Violence Disturbing scenes of junkies getting high and a very upsetting double-murder suicide. Audrey pushes and pounds on Jerry in anger.
Language Expletives -- including "f--k," "s--t," etc. -- are strong and fairly frequent, but said mostly out of grief.
Message
	Social Behavior Brian remains a loyal friend to Jerry, even though he's a drug addict. He also intervenes in a domestic abuse situation. Audrey and her family and friends help Jerry get clean after Brian's death.
	Commercialism Volvo SUV, Coldstone Creamery.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Several scenes show Jerry getting high and strung out on heroin. Other drug addicts also shown.