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The Review - AT THE MOVIES with WILLIAM HALL
Published: 31 January 2008

Halle Berry mourns

Burning desire for her lost husband

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE
Directed by SUSANNE BIER
Certificate 15

THE ghost of Brian (David Duchovny) hovers like an intrusive shadow over this sensitive study of a woman, Audrey (Halle Berry), coming to terms with the loss of her husband after he dies when a good Samaritan act turns to tragedy.
They appeared to have the perfect marriage, with Brian a loving husband and father to their two children (delightfully played by Alexis Llewellyn and Micah Berry).
But now Audrey is on her own – and finds she cannot face life without him. Instead she blocks out the reality of what has happened, locking the door to his computer room, leaving his clothes hanging in the wardrobe, and making the mistake of inviting his oldest friend Jerry (Benecio Del Toro) to move into the guest apartment.
Jerry is fighting his own demons after coming out of drug addiction, which only fuels the situation. Audrey even goes so far as to ask him to lie next to her in bed and stroke her earlobe – no sex, please, but something that Brian did to induce sleep. It’s when the children start to view Jerry as a father figure that emotions bubble over and the situation turns poisonous.
The best part of director Susanne Bier’s handling of a difficult theme is the intimacy that draws us into the characters so that we share their inner longing and torment. Keeping my ears to myself, I remain unconvinced.

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