Around the Fire (1998)

Around the Fire is the deeply resonant story of a boy named Simon, who despite being raised in an upper-class Manhattan household with all its privileges--and restrictions--is haunted by ... See full summary »

Director:

John Jacobsen

Writers:

John W. Comerford, Tommy Rosen

Stars:

Devon Sawa, Bill Smitrovich, Tara Reid

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Devon Sawa	...	Simon Harris
Bill Smitrovich	...	Matt Harris
Tara Reid	...	Jennifer
Eric Mabius	...	Andrew
Colman Domingo	...	Trace
Charlayne Woodard	...	Kate
Lisa Burgett	...	Lauren
Henri Lubatti	...	Kevin
John Pirruccello	...	Joe
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Doc
Daphne Brogdon	...	Simon's mother
Blaine Walker	...	Young Simon
Manny the Hippie	...	Vegan GooBall Man
Amos Glick	...	Neal
Heath Lourwood	...	Jason

Storyline

Around the Fire is the deeply resonant story of a boy named Simon, who despite being raised in an upper-class Manhattan household with all its privileges--and restrictions--is haunted by the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of his mother. In Simon's eyes, his high-powered businessman father Matt wasted no time in remarrying his stepmother Lauren, a woman with a perfect facade whom he suspects of having an affair with Matt long before his mother's demise. When Simon is sent away to boarding school in preparation to attend Princeton, he meets Andrew, who introduces him to marijuana and LSD, and immerses him into a whole new world populated by dreamers, artists, utopians, flower children and partiers who spend the better part of their lives "on tour" at musical festivals. Simon is deeply moved by the beauty and freedom of these people, and feels they are the family he has always sought. At his very first concert Simon meets Jennifer, a beautiful young hippie to whom he is ...

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Plot Keywords:

marijuana | sent away | drugs | drug rehab | lsd | 

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Taglines:

Can't find my way home.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive drug content, language, and some sex/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ali bruciate

Filming Locations:

Novato, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paradigm Studio, Paradigm Studio

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Matt: I uh didn't expect to see you here.
Simon: I didn't come here to fight. I'm not gonna stay long.
Matt: Well you can...if you want to.
Simon: Look I just wanted to tell you. Needless to say, I, I made a lot of mistakes Dad.
Matt: Me too.

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Soundtracks

"Sufi Serenade"
Written and Performed by Wild Bill and his Moroccan Choir
used by permission of Front Left Music (BMI)

User Reviews

Derivative but fairly effective psychological drama

Probably the best thing about Around the Fire is Devon Sawa's performance. He plays a college bound teen who meets a group of new friends who quickly turn him on to drugs and a counter culture that is intriguing but ultimately leads to his downfall, as he uses it to escape the tragic loss of his mother and the family problems that surround it.

Although the story is heartfelt and unfolds well, it is also derivative and highly uneven. The director is careful not to use any real names of people or places in portraying the hippie/druggie sub-culture that the Sawa character falls prey to. This has a twin effect of leaving things a little vague, yet, bringing us into a real and hypnotically dazzling world.

However, the performances shine, elevating the film to a much more credible level. Sawa has grown into an actor of considerable depth and range and proves that he's at home as much here as he is in any number of his earlier, more emotionally shallow films.