ANN RULE’S HOUSE ON FIRE

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Canada, 2021, 85 minutes, Colour.

Stephanie March, Shaun Benson, Connor Peterson, Isla Gorton, Amy Groening.

Directed by Shamim Sarif.

The original title of And Rules novel, based on actual events, is Bitter Harvest. House on Fire seems a far better title.

This is the story of a marriage where the partners had high hopes and dreams for their married life. She is Deb (Stephanie March), a high IQ successful Dr, rather disdainful of others, not a strong bedside manner, but charmed when a colleague suggests to another doctor, Mike (Shaun Benson) to invite Deb on a date. She agrees, succumbs, they marry.

However, the film is opened with a mansion on fire and Deb rushing out in grief and despair.

It is in that context that we go back 17 years to the courtship and marriage. And then we move almost 17 years on, to 6 months before the fire. Mike and Deb have a comfortable home, both of them work at the hospital, Mike in line for considerable promotion. And they have two teenage children, Tim and Kelly.

But, all is not well. The focus of the drama is on Deb, her becoming and developing as a mother, devoted to her children, not doing so well at work, not keeping up with the demands for further qualifications, arriving late… Even this leading to suspension. Mike, on the other hand, is busy, genial with his children, trying to support Deb. And they have had a dream of owning a mansion – and, eventually they do, whether they are comfortable.

We realise, of course, that all is not well with the marriage and, we further realise that Deb has some mental problems, certainly unwilling to face them, in denial. She says she continually wants to build the marriage but becomes jealous, Mike discussing matters with Celeste, a psychiatrist, and, rather inevitably, having an affair with her.

Interspersed with all this are interviews, separately, with the police questioning Deb and Mike, he innocent of setting the fire because he has been in hospital at the time after a collapse. Deb, both emotional and unemotional, declaring she would do anything for her children.

The ending is grim, especially as we realised we have watched a marriage unravelling in a highly qualified and intelligence Dr unravelling.

1. Based on characters and events? Fictionalised? The drama, melodrama? Canadian production?
2. Kansas City, hospitals and awards, corridors and offices? Homes, school, psychiatrists’ offices…? The new house, the mansion, grounds, interiors? The musical score?
3. The title, the original novel, Bitter Harvest? The sequence of the fire, the mansion, enormous fire, Deb running out, her desperation?
4. The film as a flashback, to 17 years earlier, Deb, doctor, very demanding, no bedside manner? Her colleagues? Keeping to herself? High IQ, sense of superiority? Mike, his interest in her, the colleague urging him to flirt? Her reaction, the date, the coffee, her enjoying it, the issue of the second date, the going out, courtship, the details of the wedding, the celebrant and their being impulsive? The life commitment? The hopes for a happy life? The two doctors?
5. Moving to 6 months before the fire, at home, Tim, his age, school, Kelly, her age, violin and music? Mike and his success, being offered trips to Baltimore, promotion? Deb, continuing her work, not having the time to complete her qualifications, at home, her devotion to the children, domestic scenes, picking them up from school? Mike and his moving on his own career? Deb, being interviewed by the authorities, warned about not getting partnership?
6. The portrayal of Deb, superior, her qualifications and career, success, as a mother? Tensions with Mike, her supporting him? The scene of the fall, her wrist, the treatment, medication?
7. The picture of her gradual decline, tablets, opioids, dependence, moving to addiction, her drinking? Her sense of superiority yet her continually being subservient to Mike, wanting new beginnings?
8. Mike, his own career, love for his children, the domestic scenes, relationship with Deb, fragility, the parents’ night, the encounter with Celeste, Deb and her suspicions, Mike and the discussions with Celeste, at the hospital, leading up to the affair?
9. Deb and her response, discussing it with the children, wanting them to stay with her for separation, her manipulating them and their attitudes?
10. Mike, the 10 year dream, the dream house, her checking it out, Mike and the possibilities, the agent, the discussion about decisions? Deb, collapse, Mike and the decision to buy the house, then moving in, communications between rooms, spacious, luxury?
11. Mike, Kelly’s recital? Deb, more erratic, told of her suspension? Her resentment? The opioids, the drinking? Her collapse?
12. Deb going to the office, Mike with Celeste, the buildup to the confrontation? Deb poisoning Michael, Mike, his being in hospital?
13. The experience of the fire and the old house, the effect on each of them? Deb, keeping the scrapbooks and photos over the years, starting to destroy the photo is?
14. The night of the fire, audience suspicions?
15. The interview sequences? Deb and the way she presented, and from the questions? Mike, the detectives probing the private life, his being in the hospital at the time of the fire, arriving?
16. The terrible pathos of the two children being killed? Deb and her denials – and the final voice-over, her responsibility, serving sentences in prison, giving her life for her children?
17. A frightening picture of a marriage collapsing, characters, family, mental situations, blame, tragedy and destruction?