Fires are raging in So. California from Santa Barbara to San Diego with LA smack in the middle. Property loss has been devastating, and nearly one million fearful residences have been forced to leave their homes. Interestingly, Halle Berry’s new film, has the very timely title of “Things We Lost in the Fire” and it just happens to be released in the middle of this horrific devastation.

This powerful film tells the story of a woman (Halle Berry) who loses her husband in an act of random violence; she forges an unlikely relationship with Jerry Sunborne (Benicio Del Toro), her husband’s best friend from childhood. Jerry is a heroin user; his addiction has destroyed everything that was once important to him. As Audrey discovers that Jerry is the only person who can help her survive her loss, Jerry finds the strength to overcome his own problems.

The title is a metaphor for things that we lose to the fires (tragedies) of life. Even though most of us have not suffered actual loss by the kinds of fires in LA, we can relate to these dear souls because we have all suffered loss through “the fires” of life. There are 2 powerful messages in the film:
(1) We can and must move on.
(2) We need the help of others (or, more precisely, as we help we are helped).

In the midst of such tragic loss in California, it is refreshing to see so many people helping each other, with the determination to move forward. There can be a new day even after the Things We Lost in the Fire. Because, you see, we have each other.