Before the Rain (1994)
Milcho Manchevski's Before the Rain stands as a unique meditation on violence that pushes the boundaries of filmmaking and what a narrative can look like. Split into 3 different sections that circle around a violent incident that takes place in Macedonia, Before the Rain attempts to build 3 compelling character studies in hopes of proving some greater point regarding violence and how both the media and society view the topic.
Before the Rain is a film that impresses in a variety of ways. This is a film that transcends the typical cinematic experience and truly feels like a work of art. From the deeper thematic explorations at work to the stunning cinematography and shot composition by Manuel Teran, Before the Rain constantly feels not just inspired but enthralling. There is something incredibly engaging about the world that Before the Rain explores and creates that hooks the audience with a poetic artistry. Part of this undoubtedly can be rewarded to the performances throughout the feature which are all stunning. Even though no individual actor gets to elevate themselves into a leading role with 3 separate stories, those like Grégoire Colin truly are able to make their small presence felt with authentic and thoughtful performances.
Largely the most impressive aspect of Before the Rain is simply how powerful the film can feel. From desire to tragedy, Before the Rain has the rare ability to truly connect with a deeper sense of humanity within the audience and hit deep. The film makes it clear early on that it is not afraid to have bold consequences and truly it feels like anything could happen at any time. Audiences cannot help but rise to the edge of their seats waiting for tragedy around every corner. Sometimes this tragedy misses but other times it hits, and it hurts. There are multiple sequences within the film that feel genuinely devastating which is a sign that the film is doing something right. Even if the conflict at the center of the film might not be the most relatable or understood, the film works and connects on a much deeper level.
The one area that feels confusing within the film is its structure. Where there are small clues as to what order the three sections of the film take place in, it largely remains a mystery. Where some claim that the purpose of this is to show that the specific details of violence doesn't really matter in the long run and instead there is a larger conversation around violence that needs focus that surpasses just what happens in each individual instance, this feels counterproductive. By having this plot structure, naturally a large amount of the focus when watching the film and when conversing about the feature after the runtime ends becomes dedicated and focused to this unique narrative structure. Instead of putting more of a focus on this larger conversation, this is the one piece of the film that ends up taking away from this focus and probably could have been cut.
This is quite a minor flaw however, Before the Rain is overall a compelling and memorable feature that truly stands out. With incredibly well-crafted performances, a touching screenplay, and a larger thematic purpose; Before the Rain really does impress and absolutely deserves to be sought out.
Before the Rain is a film that impresses in a variety of ways. This is a film that transcends the typical cinematic experience and truly feels like a work of art. From the deeper thematic explorations at work to the stunning cinematography and shot composition by Manuel Teran, Before the Rain constantly feels not just inspired but enthralling. There is something incredibly engaging about the world that Before the Rain explores and creates that hooks the audience with a poetic artistry. Part of this undoubtedly can be rewarded to the performances throughout the feature which are all stunning. Even though no individual actor gets to elevate themselves into a leading role with 3 separate stories, those like Grégoire Colin truly are able to make their small presence felt with authentic and thoughtful performances.
Largely the most impressive aspect of Before the Rain is simply how powerful the film can feel. From desire to tragedy, Before the Rain has the rare ability to truly connect with a deeper sense of humanity within the audience and hit deep. The film makes it clear early on that it is not afraid to have bold consequences and truly it feels like anything could happen at any time. Audiences cannot help but rise to the edge of their seats waiting for tragedy around every corner. Sometimes this tragedy misses but other times it hits, and it hurts. There are multiple sequences within the film that feel genuinely devastating which is a sign that the film is doing something right. Even if the conflict at the center of the film might not be the most relatable or understood, the film works and connects on a much deeper level.
The one area that feels confusing within the film is its structure. Where there are small clues as to what order the three sections of the film take place in, it largely remains a mystery. Where some claim that the purpose of this is to show that the specific details of violence doesn't really matter in the long run and instead there is a larger conversation around violence that needs focus that surpasses just what happens in each individual instance, this feels counterproductive. By having this plot structure, naturally a large amount of the focus when watching the film and when conversing about the feature after the runtime ends becomes dedicated and focused to this unique narrative structure. Instead of putting more of a focus on this larger conversation, this is the one piece of the film that ends up taking away from this focus and probably could have been cut.
This is quite a minor flaw however, Before the Rain is overall a compelling and memorable feature that truly stands out. With incredibly well-crafted performances, a touching screenplay, and a larger thematic purpose; Before the Rain really does impress and absolutely deserves to be sought out.