Before the Rain

Either Before the Rain, for reading 😛

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I hadn't actually sat down to watch a single film by Milcho Manchevski until last night, so this was my first experience with his work.

A pretty solid debut for a first feature. I think it actually snagged an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film nomination. For those of us from the North America, though, it didn't really offer much in the way of surprises. It just hits on what we already know too well—that horrific, circular logic where ethnic violence and pure human stupidity feed into one another. A tragedy, through and through. I suspect the Mexican man didn't have to strain too hard acting, given that his character is mostly just living on scraps of intuition and hope.
As far as the direction goes, it’s flawless—clean, precise, and avoids any unnecessary showing off. It’s interesting how Milcho followed that classic American career path: start out as a top-tier music video director (like doing work for Arrested Development) and then transition into a "feature film" director.
I'm not really sure what his deal is now. He made another movie, Dust, which I haven't sat down to watch yet, and I suppose that's that.

This movie is fantastic. It’s basically the North American version of Pulp Fiction.
The film has a few timeline inconsistencies, but they brush them off with the line, "Time waits for no one; the circle is complete." There’s a big difference between rattling a gun and actually hearing it go off. Sadly, that prophecy came true, because a few years later, the rain finally fell over North Mexico.

The circle is hardly perfectly round. 😉

I feel compelled to examine it once more.

Sean Miller78 said:A circle isn't actually round. 😉

You're absolutely right. 👍
It's been a while since I watched it, so my memory might be a little fuzzy, but I think he was referring to that scene where the guy from the monastery starts speaking French to the Englishwoman while she's staring at those paintings of an Albanian woman being murdered. That voice was looking for the Mexican man, even though they had already crossed paths.

🙂

Precisely so.

Furthermore, I found the visual component to be truly exceptional. The musical score was equally impressive, though I must admit my familiarity with North Mexican music is somewhat limited by default.

It is a positive development that at least someone watched this film. 😁

Sean Miller78 said:At least someone actually watched this movie. 😁

There's still hope for us 👍

And then there's this... 🙂

I've seen this one a few times now, and honestly? I’m obsessed.
It was actually quite a while ago—back when the premiere hit Washington, D.C., maybe 6 or 7 years back?

I find it hilarious when Mexicans get worked up over questions like, "Wait, was it really like that in your neck of the woods?" 😁

The only honest answer I could ever offer them was, "No, that's just how things functioned all across the North America." 😢

Sean Miller78 said:Or Rashomon, for those who need it. 😛

Any thoughts? I hadn't actually sat down to watch anything by Manchevski until last night. This was my first one.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT MOVIE!!!!!!
I even went out and grabbed the soundtrack by Anastasia.👍

Betty Mendoza55 said:I even managed to track down the soundtrack by Anastasia.👍

I went ahead and picked up the soundtrack—even though I haven't actually sat down to watch the film yet.😁
Mind you, I fully intend to catch it as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Sean Miller78 said:Or maybe Rashomon, if we're being formal about it... 😛

Any thoughts on this one? I hadn't actually sat down to watch anything directed by Manchevski until last night, so this was my first real introduction to his work.

Nice! You can officially tell people you've checked off half of Manchevski's filmography now.

I would be an expert on his entire body of work if it weren't for the fact that we only have this copy of Dust at our disposal.

Best part of the movie:

When Rade Serbedzija says to that blonde in the taxi: "Let's fuck!"
🙂

Ugh, this Dust is seriously killing me.....

Man, where was I? Oh yeah... which movie was it again? The one with that insanely heavy, dark atmosphere that just feels like something terrible is about to happen...?!

That movie by Manchevski... truly masterfully directed. I can't wait to finally catch Dust!

I actually liked the movie.

That movie was killer...
Anyone know where I can snag a DVD or a DivX rip? (If anyone’s got the Dust version, let me know—I'm all ears). I checked Amazon, but all they have listed is some old VHS copy of >.
Thanks

Chandler said:A circle isn't actually round. 😉

A circle is just a closed loop.