Review of Before Dawn

I saw this film in New York (Sundance at BAM) and it blew me away. I wasn't expecting the film to be shot in one take, so I kept thinking about what Kubrick once said about the opening shot of a movie. According to him, it should be the most interesting thing the audience had seen that day. Well, I think I can say this film will probably be one of the most interesting things I have seen this year.

Many aspects of this film make it a short masterpiece. Its script, which comments on contemporary issues (though lightly). Its staging and choreography, which are phenomenal. I could go on for a while, but you really have to see it for yourself.

Luckily, the director attended a Q&A after the film. He explained that he had two shooting days and that they shot the film at dusk (you know, early in the evening) and only did four takes, the fourth being the final film. The director had certain ideas about the film and he practiced with a digital camera before the actual shooting. The location was found after the writing of a one page synopsis, but there was no script or storyboard. And the man in the end isn't a professional actor.

I love this film and loved talking to the director, who, by the way is a really nice guy.