Brief synopsis
After losing her father as a teenager to a house fire, the presence of flames remind Marie of the heavy loss she has experienced. Life has been a challenge since her teenage years, and now she has decided to take a chance to experience life overseas as an Au Pair, hoping she can find a way to give her life new meaning. Marie finds herself with a host family on the other side of the world - New Zealand - a foreign and somewhat isolated place, hopefully far enough for her to gather her thoughts and start again. However Marie keeps the death of her father to herself, and above all does not mention her uncomfortable fear of fire.
The little girl whom she looks after, 8 year old Sally, has instantly filled her heart with love and happiness, and a desire to protect her from everything. She is like the little sister Marie never had.
Sally's parents, Jonathan and Alicia, lead rather busy lives - Jonathan is a city commuter who teaches social studies to college students, and Alicia is a manager and candle maker at a local handmade craft and candle business.
Alicia however has become a bit of a workaholic, and over the years has distanced herself from her motherly role. When Marie steps into their lives and Sally attaches herself to her so quickly, Alicia is forced to recognise just how big the gap she has created, really is. Alicia struggles to come to terms with the fact that someone else is filling her shoes, and finds excuses to try and get rid of Marie instead of facing these things head on...
Jonathan is the happy-go-lucky type, and Sally adores him. He makes time for everyone, and enjoys life. Marie feels at ease with him, but slowly their relationship starts to make Alicia feel even more of an outsider...
Life goes by and the characters learn to live with each other's ways, but when Marie's behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre around the fireplace - which is at the heart of the family home - Jonathan and Alicia start to wonder what is going on. Then, one Saturday morning over brunch and cake for Marie's birthday, things take a dramatic turn. The flames upon the candles burn right before Marie's eyes, and it all becomes too much for her to take...
Marie's journey in this film is one of grief and getting on the road to healing. However it turns out that Marie is not alone in this journey. Her story touches the lives of her host family in such a gentle way that it brings a sense of being able to move on, to both herself and them...And...In the end, it is just that one small gesture of tenderness that brings Marie to a place where she feels she can finally stop running.
A little theme/message in the film:
...Keeping secrets hold you back on the road to recovery.
The little girl whom she looks after, 8 year old Sally, has instantly filled her heart with love and happiness, and a desire to protect her from everything. She is like the little sister Marie never had.
Sally's parents, Jonathan and Alicia, lead rather busy lives - Jonathan is a city commuter who teaches social studies to college students, and Alicia is a manager and candle maker at a local handmade craft and candle business.
Alicia however has become a bit of a workaholic, and over the years has distanced herself from her motherly role. When Marie steps into their lives and Sally attaches herself to her so quickly, Alicia is forced to recognise just how big the gap she has created, really is. Alicia struggles to come to terms with the fact that someone else is filling her shoes, and finds excuses to try and get rid of Marie instead of facing these things head on...
Jonathan is the happy-go-lucky type, and Sally adores him. He makes time for everyone, and enjoys life. Marie feels at ease with him, but slowly their relationship starts to make Alicia feel even more of an outsider...
Life goes by and the characters learn to live with each other's ways, but when Marie's behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre around the fireplace - which is at the heart of the family home - Jonathan and Alicia start to wonder what is going on. Then, one Saturday morning over brunch and cake for Marie's birthday, things take a dramatic turn. The flames upon the candles burn right before Marie's eyes, and it all becomes too much for her to take...
Marie's journey in this film is one of grief and getting on the road to healing. However it turns out that Marie is not alone in this journey. Her story touches the lives of her host family in such a gentle way that it brings a sense of being able to move on, to both herself and them...And...In the end, it is just that one small gesture of tenderness that brings Marie to a place where she feels she can finally stop running.
A little theme/message in the film:
...Keeping secrets hold you back on the road to recovery.