The Life Before This

The Life Before This (1999)

Genres - Drama, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - Crime Drama, Ensemble Film, Urban Drama  |   Release Date - Sep 15, 1999 (USA - Unknown), Oct 24, 2000 (USA)  |   Run Time - 95 min.  |   Countries - Canada, United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Jonathan Crow

Exploring concepts of fate and free will, Jerry Ciccoritti's contemplative drama shows the lives of a handful of random people during the 12 hours leading up to a bloody shooting spree in a posh coffee shop. Maggie (Emily Hampshire) is a waitress in the café whose acting career is going nowhere fast. Her co-worker Connie (Sarah Polley), who is learning to love her lawyer boyfriend, is supposed to have the day off. Sheena (Catherine O'Hara), who frequents the shop, is a lovelorn bridal consultant looking for a decent man. And Brian (Stephen Rea), an exterminator/philosopher, is still mourning the death of his daughter, who died a year ago. Their petty, everyday problems gain ironic resonance when juxtaposed with the day's bloody ending. This film was screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival.

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Keywords

coffee-house, death, exterminator, fate, grief, problems, waiter