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Things We Lost in the Fire

Play trailer Poster for Things We Lost in the Fire R Released Oct 19, 2007 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 127 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After her husband dies in an act of senseless violence, Audrey Burke (Halle Berry) is left alone with two young children and no idea how to cope. Nearly paralyzed by grief, Audrey tracks down her husband's childhood friend, Jerry (Benicio del Toro). Jerry is a drug addict, but Audrey invites him to move into her home nevertheless, and a mutually dependent relationship develops between the two damaged souls.
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Things We Lost in the Fire

Things We Lost in the Fire

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Critics Consensus

Things We Lost in the Fire is a well-acted, beautifully filmed reflection on love, loss, addiction and recovery from life's obstacles.

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Critics Reviews

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Alonso Duralde MSNBC Where the film's ambitions crumble is in its avowed refusal to make its audience too uncomfortable. Rated: 3/5 May 1, 2008 Full Review Amy Nicholson I.E. Weekly Scheduled blowups and symbolic dreams and interminable tears until we all feel like we've learned a little something about loss: We want our two hours back. Rated: D Feb 22, 2008 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Often as overwrought as it is heartrending. Rated: B Nov 27, 2007 Full Review Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) The beauty of this film lies in both the rich performances Bier draws from Berry and del Toro (it is truly a gift to watch these two share the screen together), and Tom Stern’s impressionistic cinematography. Feb 13, 2024 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand The English-language debut of Danish director Susanne Bier is at times morose but the tale of healing is directed with compassion and a powerful, sometimes discomforting intimacy. Sep 8, 2023 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Though slowly paced, it's a film that knows how to build characters and thought-provoking situations for a striking analyzation of sorrow and struggle. Rated: 8/10 Nov 28, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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TI H The crux of the film: a loyal husband and friend dies while visiting his drug-addicted friend on the addict's birthday. The wife hates the drug addict, but he is a connection to her husband, for the two men have been friends since childhood. Can she give the addict a normal life in her home, and why has she invited him there, to berate him constantly? To replace her husband? Honestly, I don't think I know. I don't think she knows. She is distraught and confused and doing the best she can. I wish there were more movies like this. I was also a fan of House of Sand & Fog, which I place in the same category. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/06/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 58 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language and Drug Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $3,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review annette Z I think this movie helps to prevent drug addiction. The acting was very good for me it would be difficult for someone to accomplish media task of acting in it , I hope it may help other people to see and understand what addiction is for some people. I watched people get addicted to drugs when I grew up this movie may have given them an insight to inspire no drug use without at least without pain and suffering and poverty - pain and suffering is the way of addiction for most people and it keeps people impoverished. also do not forget for carry fisher who died from what. thanks. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review Christoffer J The plot,the premiere rather,makes little sense. Audrey invited her dead husbands best friend. To live with her and her kids. And he's an addict. Addicted to heroine...Yeah, it's all a bit odd but once you accept it and go with the flow, you'll watch a beautiful story unfold. Overflowing with empathy,humanity and hope. Even when it comes to accepting death as the final curtain and not selling any kind of afterlife,TWLITF puts emphasis on life and what we do here on earth being what matters and that we can change for the better. Benicio as god damn always gives a powerhouse performance. No,strike that. No,he DOES always deliver but I mean that this might be his best work. He was not nominated for anything which has to be due to the tragic fact that most people missed this movie. His Jerry is a man brimming with life and intelligence,he knows how he's perceived and doesnt ask for special treatment. People are either weary or too polite,almost Condescending to him but he always seem to know his place and exactly whats going on. He's a loving, compassionate man and Benicio never overplays his Magical Junkie despite the obvious temptations. As for Halle Berry,she was coming of a string of poorly received movies and some told her to give the Oscar back. With this movie,she proved them all wrong. She's not afraid to play Audrey as someone who doesn't understand her own emotions as someone suffering trauma and grief might. She is not asking for any sympathy and by movies end,a movie better for her choices she has become much more human,this more human. This is a great movie with great acting sensitive directing by Susanne Bier and add beautiful cinematography. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/02/24 Full Review Ted B 3.0 stars; The story of two addicts. One addicted to drugs and one addicted to grief. The road to recovery is filled with heartbreak and disappointment for both. The plot was a little too cliche and day-to-day, which tended to make boring. However, the exceptional acting of Halle Berry and Benecio Del Toro raised it to a level of audience participation in the life of the characters. This was a Love story, just not a romantic kind. Things lost in a fire can be replaced, but people can't be .... what an interesting way to demonstrate this. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/02/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie deserves a higher rating from the "professional" critics. Great story, great actors, great performances by all. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Things We Lost in the Fire

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Things We Lost in the Fire

Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Playing Hooky Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Playing Hooky 1:58 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - What's Heroin Like? Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - What's Heroin Like? 2:13 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Breathe and Count to Ten Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Breathe and Count to Ten 2:12 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Reaching Out Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Reaching Out 1:30 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - You Are Beautiful Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - You Are Beautiful 1:10 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - That Wasn't Your Moment Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - That Wasn't Your Moment 1:46 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Raincheck Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - Raincheck 1:47 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - He's Gone Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - He's Gone 2:03 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - It Should Have Been You Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - It Should Have Been You 1:09 Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - I Hated You Things We Lost in the Fire: Official Clip - I Hated You 1:55 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis After her husband dies in an act of senseless violence, Audrey Burke (Halle Berry) is left alone with two young children and no idea how to cope. Nearly paralyzed by grief, Audrey tracks down her husband's childhood friend, Jerry (Benicio del Toro). Jerry is a drug addict, but Audrey invites him to move into her home nevertheless, and a mutually dependent relationship develops between the two damaged souls.
Director
Susanne Bier
Producer
Sam Mendes, Sam Mercer
Screenwriter
Allan Loeb
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
DreamWorks, Scamp Film and Theatre Ltd., Neal Street Productions
Rating
R (Language|Drug Content)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 19, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.2M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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