Things We Lost in Fire (2007)

Seen on 12-7-09 - HB0

Cast: Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro
Dir.: Susanne Bier (Known for her poignant screenplay for "After the Wedding")

Drug addict Del Toro is invited to stay with Halle Berry, the recently widowed wife of his dear friend. Del Toro is struggling to overcome his addiction while Berry is trying to heal after the loss of her husband. In the process Berry's two children come to love him, but Berry herself can't accept him taking her husband's place (which he definitely is not trying to do, much less intend it). At one stage when Berry finds that he is stealing her husband's place with children, she asks him to leave not knowing the consequences. This causes his relapse and deterioration, while children miss him badly. Contrite Berry brings him back to put him on the path of recovery. He, however, realizes he must leave soon to achieve complete recovery. His struggle is heart-rending.

The screenplay, direction and action attain an unusual poignancy. Del Toro's action is especially memorable. Claudia Puig of "USA Today" said Del Toro is "hypnotically watchable."