Each story is connected to the other in ways both small and large.
The film is beautifully shot by Manuel Teran. Manchevski is nearly as concerned with landscape and intimate details of nature as he is with telling a story, and the film captures a sense of aching pastoral body even amidst the bloodshed, a faint echo of Terence Malick perhaps, though the similarities are modest.
Cartlidge only appears in one segment of the film and very briefly in the third, but her performance is memorable as were all of her roles. Cartlidge, who died at the age of 41 in 2002, was a stunner in Mike Leigh´s "Naked" (1993) and as Bess´ friend in Lars von Trier´s "Breaking the Waves" (1995). When I watched her in these films as well as other Mike Leigh projects in the 90s, I thought she was developing into an international star, but she never got the opportunity. Rade Šerbedžija commands much more the screen time in "Before the Rain," and takes advantage of it in spades. He is a sure and sturdy presence who appears blissfully uninterested in the excessive emoting of method acting.
"Before the Rain" glides along with a deceptive ease, gaining momentum and power with each subtle detail. Connections between the stories aren´t announced with the fanfare of trumpets like in the "we´re all connected" cycle, but woven artfully into the structure of the narrative. By not trying too hard, it succeeds where so many others have failed.
Video
The film is presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. This Criterion release opens with the Universal logo, but appears to have undergone the usual Criterion restoration process, supervised by Manchevski. It looks marvelous, as you are surely unsurprised to hear. As usual, I have no complaints about this superior transfer.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English subtitles support the Macedonian and Albanian dialogue in the film, but aren´t available for the English dialogue of the London segment.
Extras
This single disc release from Criterion kicks off with a commentary track by Manchevski and film scholar Annette Insdorf, recorded in 20007.
Next is an interview with Rade Šerbedžija, recorded in 2008 in Los Angeles (16 min).
"Behind the Scenes in Macedonia" (1993, 15 min) is, as you might have guessed, a behind-the-scenes look at the film, while a separate feature labeled "On Set Footage" provides 5 minutes of miscellaneous video footage loosely edited together, some with sound, some without.
Viewers can also sample the soundtrack by composers Anastasia, A Macedonian band. This feature includes 16 minutes of the film´s score with accompanying footage.
Yet another feature includes 79 photographs from Manchevski´s 1999 book "Streets." Unfortunately, the photos don´t look all that great when reproduced on this DVD.
Manchevski worked in music videos before directing features. The DVD includes Manchevski´s award-winning video for Arrested Development´s 1991 smash hit "Tennessee." (4 min.)
The disc also offers a Stills Gallery and three Trailers, including a re-cut version by Manchevski who was unhappy with the U.S. trailer.
Film Value
How many chances do you have to watch a Macedonian film? Milcho Manchevski´s debut feature tells three stories in one with such confidence it´s hard to believe he was only 35 when the film was released and barely 30 when he began writing the script. Strongly recommended.
Cartlidge only appears in one segment of the film and very briefly in the third, but her performance is memorable as were all of her roles. Cartlidge, who died at the age of 41 in 2002, was a stunner in Mike Leigh´s "Naked" (1993) and as Bess´ friend in Lars von Trier´s "Breaking the Waves" (1995). When I watched her in these films as well as other Mike Leigh projects in the 90s, I thought she was developing into an international star, but she never got the opportunity. Rade Šerbedžija commands much more the screen time in "Before the Rain," and takes advantage of it in spades. He is a sure and sturdy presence who appears blissfully uninterested in the excessive emoting of method acting.
"Before the Rain" glides along with a deceptive ease, gaining momentum and power with each subtle detail. Connections between the stories aren´t announced with the fanfare of trumpets like in the "we´re all connected" cycle, but woven artfully into the structure of the narrative. By not trying too hard, it succeeds where so many others have failed.
Video
The film is presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. This Criterion release opens with the Universal logo, but appears to have undergone the usual Criterion restoration process, supervised by Manchevski. It looks marvelous, as you are surely unsurprised to hear. As usual, I have no complaints about this superior transfer.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English subtitles support the Macedonian and Albanian dialogue in the film, but aren´t available for the English dialogue of the London segment.
Extras
This single disc release from Criterion kicks off with a commentary track by Manchevski and film scholar Annette Insdorf, recorded in 20007.
Next is an interview with Rade Šerbedžija, recorded in 2008 in Los Angeles (16 min).
"Behind the Scenes in Macedonia" (1993, 15 min) is, as you might have guessed, a behind-the-scenes look at the film, while a separate feature labeled "On Set Footage" provides 5 minutes of miscellaneous video footage loosely edited together, some with sound, some without.
Viewers can also sample the soundtrack by composers Anastasia, A Macedonian band. This feature includes 16 minutes of the film´s score with accompanying footage.
Yet another feature includes 79 photographs from Manchevski´s 1999 book "Streets." Unfortunately, the photos don´t look all that great when reproduced on this DVD.
Manchevski worked in music videos before directing features. The DVD includes Manchevski´s award-winning video for Arrested Development´s 1991 smash hit "Tennessee." (4 min.)
The disc also offers a Stills Gallery and three Trailers, including a re-cut version by Manchevski who was unhappy with the U.S. trailer.
Film Value
How many chances do you have to watch a Macedonian film? Milcho Manchevski´s debut feature tells three stories in one with such confidence it´s hard to believe he was only 35 when the film was released and barely 30 when he began writing the script. Strongly recommended.
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[release]24171[/release]