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ERA
Did you know
63 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Fire Within
1963 1h 48m FR
🙌
7.6
BANGER
🍅
82%
FRESH
⭐
7.8
IMDB
★7.6TMDB · 251🍅82%Rotten Tomatoes★7.8IMDB · 10,815
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Depressed Alain Leroy leaves the clinic where he was detoxified. He meets friends, acquaintances and women, trying to find a reason to continue living.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Maurice Ronet
Alain Leroy
Léna Skerla
Lydia
Yvonne Clech
Mademoiselle Farnoux
Hubert Deschamps
D'Averseau
Jean-Paul Moulinot
Dr. La Barbinais
Mona Dol
Madame La Barbinais
Pierre Moncorbier
Moraine
René Dupuy
Charlie (as René Dupuis)
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Louis Malle
- Writers
- Louis Malle
- Languages
- French
- Countries
- France
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 5
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Louis Malle, shot by Ghislain Cloquet. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 5
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Suzanne Baron shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 5
CAST
Did you know
Maurice Ronet and Léna Skerla and Yvonne Clech carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 5
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0057058 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Louis Malle directs. Ghislain Cloquet behind the camera. Suzanne Baron cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 163 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2Directed by Louis Malle, shot by Ghislain Cloquet. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Editor Suzanne Baron shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 4Maurice Ronet and Léna Skerla and Yvonne Clech carry the top of the cast.
- 5IMDB entry: tt0057058 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Ghislain Cloquet
- Editing
- Suzanne Baron
- Production design
- Bernard Evein
- Costume design
- Gitt Magrini
- Runtime
- 108 min · 1h 48m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- FR
- Certification (US)
- 14
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 82% 🍅 Fresh
- IMDB rating
- 7.8/10 · 10,815 votes
- MPAA
- Not Rated
Awards
2 wins & 2 nominations
- Grand Jury Prize of the Venice Film Festival
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Louis Malle
Production companies
Who made it
- NO
Nouvelles Éditions de Films
FR
Key crew
- EditorSuzanne Baron
- Production DesignBernard Evein
- Production ManagerAlain Quefféléan
- Sound EngineerGuy Villette
- Location ManagerGérard Crosnier
- Assistant DirectorVolker Schlöndorff
- NovelPierre Drieu La Rochelle
- Sound MixerJean Nény
- Costume DesignGitt Magrini
- Still PhotographerGeorges Pierre
- Unit ManagerJean Pieuchot
- Camera OperatorÉtienne Becker
- Assistant CameraJean Chiabaut
- Assistant EditorMonique Nana
- MusicianClaude Helffer
- MusicErik Satie
- Script SupervisorÉlisabeth Rappeneau
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- paris, france
- alcoholism
- loneliness
- clinic
- luger
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2001-03-3014· IMDB
Also known as
International titles
- A Time to Live and a Time to DieUS
- Will o' the WispUS
- Tag mitt livSE
- El fuego fatuoES
- Trinta Anos Esta NoiteBR
- Затухающий огонекRU
- Блуждающий огонёкRU
- Ta mitt livNO
