Before The Rain (1994)

Before The Rain (1994)

A puzzling but rewarding introduction to Macedonian cinema

7.8

Movie

France, Macedonia
Albanian, English, French
Drama, War
1994
MILCHO MANCHEVSKI
Abdurrahman Shala, Aleksandar Mikic, Daniel Newman
113 min

What it's about

The circularity of violence seen in a story that circles on itself. In Macedonia, during the war in Bosnia, Christians hunt an ethnic Albanian girl who may have murdered one of their own. A young monk who's taken a vow of silence offers her protection. In London, a photographic editor who's pregnant needs to talk it out with her estranged husband and chooses a toney restaurant.

The take

Before The Rain is a very intriguing and unique film, to say the least. Its cyclical narrative structure may not be for everyone, it will puzzle most, leaving some in wonder while others fume at the illogicality of it all.

While the film's general production values have not aged very well, its intercut story of war and romance is a timeless one, makes this film one that is essential viewing for all international cinema lovers, and serves as a great introduction to Macedonian cinema as a whole.

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