The Fire Within - Criterion Collection (1966)

After rising to international stardom with such seminal crowd-pleasers as The Lovers and Zazie dans le metro Louis Malle gave his fans a shock with The Fire Within (Le feu follet) a penetrating study of individual and social inertia. Maurice Ronet (Elevator to the Gallows) in an implosive haunted performance plays Alain Leroy a self-destructive writer who resolves to kill himself and spends the next twenty-four hours trying to reconnect with a host of wayward friends. Unsparing in its portrait of Alain's inner turmoil and shot with remarkable clarity The Fire Within is one of Malle's darkest and most personal films.SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:New restored high-definition digital transferArchival interviews with director Louis Malle and actor Maurice RonetMalle's Fire Within a new video program featuring interviews with actor Alexandra Stewart and filmmakers Philippe Collin and Volker SchlondorffJusqu'au 23 Juillet a 2005 documentary short about Pierre Drieu la Rochelle's novel Le feu follet and dadaist writer Jacques Rigaut (the inspiration for the main character) featuring actor Mathieu Amalric writer Didier Daeninckx and Cannes festival curator Pierre-Henri DeleauNew and improved English subtitle translationPLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by critic Michel Ciment and historian Peter CowieSystem Requirements:Running Time: 108 minutes Language: French Subtitles: EnglishFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/LOVE & ROMANCE Rating: NR UPC: 715515029520 Manufacturer No: CC1750DDVD Product Description

Masterpiece

Disturbing story about a man approaching 30 who is hospitalized in mental institution. What seems to be a drinking problem has much deeper roots in this troubling person. He has friends, many of them scattered all over Paris. They are mostly artists he has known since he was very young. Long ago they had their adventures together, the usual stuff; drinking, drugs, women, parties. But now they are more or less settled in teh routine of ordinary lives. They are married, with or without children and pursue their youthful dreams more as a sidekick to their day job(s). They have replaced their dreams with responsibilities of paying the bills, raising children or selling commercial art. He is lost: his marriage to an American woman named Dorothy is falling apart, his writing career is going nowhere, and his handsome looks cannot compensate for his feelings of sexual inadequacy. In the world of adolescence lost, he is unable to make transformation of his own and that makes him deeply troubled and depressed. His friends are amazing: accessible, understanding, compassionate and non-judgemental. But that does not seem to be enought. I absolutely loved this movie, becuase I believe that in the point of any adult's life there must have been moment(s) when we all felt so helpless and alone in the world the way this man feels throughout the entire movie. It is wonderful to see Jeanne Moreau in the role of his woman/painter/artist friend whose refuge from the world is drugs (hashish). Maurice Ronet's performance of a man lost is stunning. July 14, 2008

Spleen

Very enchanting film well worth watching several times. Not as depressing as it sounds, it is about an ex-alcoholic, tired of life and/or unable to connect with other humans, visiting the friends who he used to party with for a last time. Beautiful shots, interesting characters, superb acting (also, Jeanne Moreau appears for a few minutes), Paris in the summer. All to the sound of Satie's Gymnopedie... June 21, 2008

Criterion does it again

What a great movie and a great job by Criterion folks. If you're into 60's French cinema, and Louis Malle in particular, you probably already must know about this. A must have. Notice the gorgeous Alexandra Stewart as Solange... June 12, 2008

A look at a suicidal person

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

The Fire Within, or "Le Feu Follet" in French is Lois Malle's fifth feature film.

The film is about Alain Leroy who is in a private clinic battling alcoholism. One day he checks out in a suididal state and debates about whether or not to kill himself while visiting old friends.

The special features include interviews with director Louis Malle and actor Maurice Ronet, new interviews with actress Alexandra Stewart and filmmakers Philippe Collin and Volker Schlöndorff, and the 2005 short documentary "Jusqu'au 23 Juillet" which is about the film the novel it is based on.

This is hard film to watch due to it's theme of self-destructive behavior. June 12, 2008

A lifesaver

This film perfectly captures suicide. The pathology of it. The tragedy of it. The absurdity of it.
In capturing suicide and this prideful, hopeless, self-abusive pathology, it also provides catharsis.
Really the most noble use of film is contained in this picture. Tragedy in the highest sense of the word. June 5, 2008

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