★★★★½
Lauren Melinda’s latest short, Before You, is an insightful and wonderful look at the miracle of life and the anxiety and life-changing moments of bringing a child into the world.
Based on a true story, it tells the intimate story of a woman on the way to an abortion clinic with her husband as she is pulled into the memories of everything that brought them there. Centering on the often-unspoken grief surrounding pregnancy loss, the film explores memory, loss, and healing.
One of the most powerful aspects of the film is the direction and Melinda’s clear vision.
“Melinda’s clear vision is heavily visually driven, allowing the story to be told visually over spoken.”
It’s a vision that takes a heavily cinematic approach, allowing the story to be told visually rather than through spoken words.
While there is dialogue and conversation, the most powerful moments come from the intense and emotional moments sparked by major events during the pregnancy.
The excitement of being late, the first doctor appointments—all the landmark moments of being pregnant. They’re scattered and pieced around the present, a more tragic moment that is devastating and overwhelming.
Short films have the more troublesome task of telling a complete narrative in a fraction of the time, being forced to cram everything into mere minutes: the introduction, the problem, the solution, and the conclusion. All before most films are even past the introduction of the core characters.
“She doesn’t introduce the characters or try to build the narrative around them. She simply introduces an incredibly emotional and life-altering moment, then builds the narrative around it.”
That’s where the brilliance of Melinda’s short comes into play. She doesn’t introduce the characters or try to build the narrative around them. She simply introduces an incredibly emotional and life-altering moment, then builds the narrative around it. For the characters can be anyone.
They’re a husband and wife, two people who are excited to be parents. A universal set of people with a very common life desire for couples. Making it not about Mr. and Mrs. X, but every husband and wife who desire to be parents. Capturing a swift and deep understanding of these people without ever needing to know their names.
Ludovica Isidori’s cinematography is technically sound, crisp, and beautiful, capturing the emotional weight of the film visually and using the camera to create an emotional connection.
The shot of them under the covers as she is telling him she is late. The close-up, with the light brightening the shot and appearing as “natural light,” creates that dreamlike state of mind. Crafting the perfect shot of this I can’t believe it’s true moment.
“A moment that couples often wait for, and when it comes true, it’s a surreal moment in time—one that the cinematography captures flawlessly.”
A moment that couples often wait for, and when it comes true, it’s a surreal moment in time. One that the cinematography captures flawlessly.
With an enlightening score by Giovanni Piacentini that complements the film’s essence and tone, accompanied by well-delivered performances, Before You is a short film that is well-crafted and utilizes its limited time swiftly.
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