Afire

Released Jul 14, 2023

1 hr. 43 min.

Comedy

Drama

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List

92%

120 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

While vacationing by the Baltic Sea, writer Leon (Thomas Schubert) and photographer Felix (Langston Uibel) are surprised by the presence of Nadja (Paula Beer), a mysterious young woman staying as a guest at Felix's family's holiday home. Nadja distracts Leon from finishing his latest novel and with brutal honesty, forces him to confront his caustic temperament and self-absorption. As Nadja and Leon grow closer, an encroaching forest fire threatens the group and tensions escalate when a handsome lifeguard and Leon's tight-lipped book editor also arrive. Christian Petzold's acclaimed latest was the winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.

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Critics Consensus

A riveting look at complicated relationships, the well-acted Afire finds Christian Petzold working in an arguably lighter but still notably ambitious vein.

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Roy J

The acting and direction kept my attention even though there isn't much going on. I really liked it until the ending...the jerk protagonist doesn't deserve that ending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

Alec B

Writers that hate themselves are almost as insufferable as those who think they are God's gift to humanity. There's a sadness to the movie that does make the main character slightly more tolerable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

Full Review

Wolfgang G

Roter Himmel ist ein Beziehungsdrama von Christian Petzold… Eine Gruppe von Freunden in einem Ferienhaus an der Ostsee, wo die Emotionen hochkochen, als der ausgetrocknete Wald um sie herum Feuer fängt… Eine künstlerische Krise und eine Schreibblockade lösen zwischenmenschliche Komplikationen aus… die eine Freundschaft auf die Probe stellt… eher eine stille melancholische Inszenierung mit einer brillanten schauspielerischen Leistung… Kurz gesagt, ein klasse Schauspiel mit sehr guten Darstellern…

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/30/23

Full Review

helder f

A story of two friends, Leon and Felix, who are spending their summer in a beach house. The goal is for Leon to finish his book and Felix to complete his portfolio for art school. The beach house belongs to Felix's family. Upon arriving, they realize that a friend of Felix's mother is staying there too, where she hosts Devid, a lifeguard. sometimes. The story has a nostalgic tone, carrying a child-like and idyllic atmosphere, while simultaneously being tense due to the relationships among the four, as well as the menace of the nearby wildfires. These two components are barely rewarding enough to sit through for almost 90 minutes in the movie, where most scenes feel more like still pictures than part of a narrative. The last segment of the movie is enervating due to its unnecessary melodramatic end. The movie's conclusion feels like an abrupt waking up from a sort of languid dream, betraying viewers who sat through the movie hoping for some kind of climax, some sort of apex. It feels juvenile and tasteless.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

X O

Wow. Extremely well acted. I don't know how I got pulled on. It must have been how they spoke. The acting. So impressive. It's so interesting how giving Nadja is, not from love, just from her nature, with feeling, not just because of some new age trip. Leon is also really fucked up and needs to stop beating himself up, amd stop beating others up because of that. Nadja is very forgiving. To her strength. The editor is a bastard. He should have prioritised Leon and not leave him hanging. That isn't professional, at best. Worth a watch, as much as how the story unfolds as much as the conclusions.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

Full Review

Greg R

This is lousy. And it's made worse by reading these reviews telling you to stick with it. The something that was to come just never arrives. It's just one long, drawn out, bore. About nothing.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/19/23

Full Review

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Christian Petzold

Director

Thomas Schubert

Leon

Paula Beer

Nadja

Langston Uibel

Felix

Enno Trebs

Devid

Matthias Brandt

Helmut

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Afire: Trailer 1

2:08

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Namrata Joshi

The New Indian Express

A good film to end or begin a year with, one that reminds us to hit the pause button every now and then between the play modes and never say no to anything because “work won’t allow it”.

Jan 23, 2024

Full Review

Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List

It could be an Eric Rohmer movie that escaped from the 1970s.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 1, 2023

Full Review

Sergio Burstein

Los Angeles Times

The script, also by director Christian Petzold finds itself full of moments marked by subtle comedy and interpreted by a group of impeccable actors. [Full review in Spanish]

Oct 4, 2023

Full Review

Kristian M. Lin

Fort Worth Weekly

When tragedy strikes the group via the forest fires burning around them, only then does he become a real artist.

Mar 18, 2024

Full Review

Tim Miller

Cape Cod Wave Magazine

Deceptively light at first, the film takes a dark turn while considering what makes great art (partial answer: bearing witness) and the need to step outside oneself.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 16, 2024

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Leon is without a doubt one of the most obnoxious characters you've ever seen, something Thomas Schubert plays to perfection.

Rated: B+

Feb 7, 2024

Full Review

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Synopsis

While vacationing by the Baltic Sea, writer Leon (Thomas Schubert) and photographer Felix (Langston Uibel) are surprised by the presence of Nadja (Paula Beer), a mysterious young woman staying as a guest at Felix's family's holiday home. Nadja distracts Leon from finishing his latest novel and with brutal honesty, forces him to confront his caustic temperament and self-absorption. As Nadja and Leon grow closer, an encroaching forest fire threatens the group and tensions escalate when a handsome lifeguard and Leon's tight-lipped book editor also arrive. Christian Petzold's acclaimed latest was the winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.

Director: Christian Petzold
Screenwriter: Christian Petzold, Christian Petzold
Distributor: Sideshow / Janus Films
Production Co: September Films, Schramm Film Koerner & Weber, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), ZDF/Arte
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 14, 2023, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $244.8K

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