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| The Life Before This | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jerry Ciccoritti |
| Written by | Semi Chellas |
| Produced by | Ilana Frank |
| Starring | Catherine O'Hara Joe Pantoliano Sarah Polley Stephen Rea |
| Cinematography | Norayr Kasper |
| Edited by | Nick Rotundo George Roulston |
| Music by | Ron Sures |
| Distributed by | Alliance Atlantis |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
The Life Before This is a 1999 Canadian drama film directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.[1] It begins with a massacre perpetrated in a coffee shop by two gunmen, and then uses flashbacks to show how each of the people present found themselves in the shop on that day.[2]
The film was inspired by the Just Desserts shooting of 1994.[3]
The film premiered at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival.[4]
Cast
- Catherine O'Hara as Sheena
- Joe Pantoliano as Jake MacLean
- Sarah Polley as Connie
- Stephen Rea as Brian
- Bernard Behrens as Monsieur Farrin
- Martha Burns as Gwen MacLean
- Fab Filippo as Michael
- Emily Hampshire as Margaret
- David Hewlett as Nick
- Leslie Hope as Alice
- Joel S. Keller as Kevin
- Dan Lett as Sam
- Jennifer Dale as Laura Lorrie
Response
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Peter Howell of the Toronto Star wrote that the film had a solid cast, but that "in seeking to make an Altmanesque story about the perfidy of fate surrounding the events leading to a cafe massacre, the movie follows dull characters too far and interesting ones not far enough."[5]
Deirdre Dolan of the National Post wrote that the initial shooting scene was stiffly acted and meaningfully paced, leading her to fear that she was about to watch "another self-important, amateur film", but opined that the film became more engaging once it shifted to explore the various decisions and choices that had led everybody to the café: "That we know their fates from the beginning only adds a layer of tension and meaning, an effect reminiscent of Robert Altman and good television."[6] Conversely, Marc Horton of the Edmonton Journal wrote that beginning the film with the shooting scene robbed it of any suspense.[7]
Catherine O'Hara won the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 20th Genie Awards.[8]
References
- ^ Gerald Pratley, A Century of Canadian Cinema. Lynx Images, 2003. ISBN 1-894073-21-5. p. 125.
- ^ "'The Life Before This' looks at chance and fate". Cambridge Times, April 25, 2000.
- ^ Brent Ledger, "Ready for his three weeks at the Carlton: Gerry Ciccoritti's film opened yesterday and will probably be seen by far fewer people than have watched his TV work". National Post, November 27, 1999.
- ^ Finnbar O'Reilly, "The Five Senses grabs a film festival top spot: The Toronto film festival's Canadian series explores themes ranging from a child's abduction to adolescence". National Post, July 28, 1999.
- ^ Peter Howell, "The gang's all here". Toronto Star, November 26, 1999.
- ^ Deirdre Dolan, "A gripping 12 hours in Toronto". National Post, September 15, 1999.
- ^ Marc Horton, "Film, much like life itself, as fragile as a house of cards: A tad too heavy on cliches and light on suspense to work". Edmonton Journal, April 4, 2000.
- ^ John McKay, "Genies a bright spot for Sunshine". Kingston Whig-Standard, January 31, 2000.
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