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Around the Fire

  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
716
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Around the Fire (1998)
A modern day prodigal son story with the backdrop of the psychedelic music tour scene á la Phish and Grateful Dead starring Devon Sawa, Tara Reid, Colman Domingo, Eric Mabius, Henry Lubatti, Bill Smitrovitch and Charlayne Woodard. Music by BC Smith featuring Bill Frisell on guitars. Soundtrack includes: The Meters, Phish, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Freddie Hubbard, Cymande, Finley Quaye, The String Cheese Incident, The Neville Brothers and Blind Faith.
Play trailer2:05
1 Video
11 Photos
  • Drama

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... Read allAround 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-p... Read allAround 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... Read all

IMDb RATING
5.4/10
716
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Jacobsen
  • Writers
    • John W. Comerford
    • Tommy Rosen
  • Stars
    • Devon Sawa
    • Bill Smitrovich
    • Tara Reid
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Jacobsen
  • Writers
    • John W. Comerford
    • Tommy Rosen
  • Stars
    • Devon Sawa
    • Bill Smitrovich
    • Tara Reid
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Around the Fire Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Around the Fire Trailer

    Photos11

    Devon Sawa in Around the Fire (1998)
    Around the Fire (1998)
    Around the Fire (1998)
    Around the Fire (1998)
    Around the Fire (1998)
    Devon Sawa and Tara Reid in Around the Fire (1998)
    Around the Fire (1998)
    Around the Fire (1998)
    Devon Sawa and Scott Ragle in Around the Fire (1998)
    Teach Me (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Devon Sawa
    Devon Sawa
    • Simon Harrisas Simon Harris
    Bill Smitrovich
    Bill Smitrovich
    • Matt Harrisas Matt Harris
    Tara Reid
    Tara Reid
    • Jenniferas Jennifer
    Eric Mabius
    Eric Mabius
    • Andrewas Andrew
    Colman Domingo
    Colman Domingo
    • Traceas Trace
    Charlayne Woodard
    Charlayne Woodard
    • Kateas Kate
    Lisa Burgett
    • Laurenas Lauren
    Henri Lubatti
    Henri Lubatti
    • Kevinas Kevin
    John Pirruccello
    John Pirruccello
    • Joeas Joe
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Docas Doc
    Daphne Brogdon
    Daphne Brogdon
    • Simon's motheras Simon's mother
    Blaine Walker
    • Young Simonas Young Simon
    Manny the Hippie
    • Vegan GooBall Manas Vegan GooBall Man
    Amos Glick
    Amos Glick
    • Nealas Neal
    Heath Lourwood
    • Jasonas Jason
    Bob Morrisey
    Bob Morrisey
    • Mr. Whitneyas Mr. Whitney
    Cole Stratton
    Cole Stratton
    • Kyleas Kyle
    Scott Ragle
    Scott Ragle
    • Hippie Stir Fry Buyeras Hippie Stir Fry Buyer
    • Director
      • John Jacobsen
    • Writers
      • John W. Comerford
      • Tommy Rosen
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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 immediately attracted, Trace, a hipster on the road less traveled who immediately bonds with him, and Kevin, a champion of the "seize the day" ethic who is dying of AIDS. As Simon delves deeper into this new-found free-spirited lifestyle, he must face an inevitable conflict not only with the life his father has planned for him, but also with the self-destructive emotional turmoil deep within. Struggling to come to terms with these conflicts, Simon makes a series of bad decisions which land him in a strict drug rehab program run by a street-smart, yet caring woman named Kate. It is here that Simon is made to take a look at himself in an honest light and to learn that until he finds out what is right for him, his chances for happiness will be fleeting at best. —B Dahlia <bdahlia@nwlink.com>
    • stoner
    • drug rehab
    • rehab
    • marijuana
    • concert
    • 31 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Finding a place to belong is just the beginning.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for pervasive drug content, language, and some sex/nudity
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was filmed on-location in Novato, California.
    • 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.

    • Soundtracks
      Water of Love
      Written by Mark Knopfler

      Performed by Dire Straits

      used by permission of 1978 Almo Music Corp. (ASCAP)

      Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (PRS) administers on behalf of Chariscourt Limited.

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records inc. / Mercury Records

      by arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    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.
    helpful•1
    0
    • vidalia15
    • Oct 28, 2001

    FAQ1

    • How do I get listed on here in the credits?n I was "Hippie (uncredited)" in fact, I am in more of the crowd scenes than the stars, and brought more people than the guy listed as casting extras, LOL!

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 26, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Jugando con fuego
    • Filming locations
      • Novato, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paradigm Studio
      • Paradigm Studio
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,200,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo

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