BEFORE THE RAIN
Macedonia, Britain, France, 1994, 114 minutes, Colour.
Katrin Cartlidge, Rade Serbedzija, Gregoire Colin.
Directed by Milcho Manchevski.
Before the Rain was written and directed by Milcho Manchevski, a Macedonian (born in Skopje in 1959) but who studied art and archaeology in the United States. He also made a number of short films over a period of 15 years before his first feature and has published a novel, stories and film criticism. He also won prizes for MTV pieces.
Before the Rain was a big winner at the 1994 Venice Film Festival, sharing the Golden Lion, Best Actor, and a number of non-official awards including the International Critics and the International Catholic Film Organisation.
It is a very topical film, taking the audience into the complexities of war in the Balkans, the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, the clashes between Macedonians and Albanians, between orthodox Christians and Muslims, the memories of hundreds of years and the bitterness that remains as well as the viciousness in war. The film consists of three stories and a circular structure, the first and the third taking place in Macedonia, the middle story, for balance, taking place in London but containing an extraordinarily vigorous and alarming portrait of a mad shootout in a restaurant.
The film explores the nature of war, the horrors of violence, but offers no real solutions except a hope for understanding and solidarity.
1.The impact of the film? Its number of awards?
2.A British- Macedonian co-production? The collaboration of various countries of Europe in the '90s for understanding, for making films, for insight?
3.The Macedonian settings, the visual beauty and ruggedness, isolation, monasteries and cliffs, the sea, villages? The contrast with London, offices, streets and restaurants? An authentic atmosphere about the film? Audiences being made to feel the experience? The musical score?
4.The title, the dry season, the look of the desert and dryness in Macedonia, the coming of the rains and the transforming of the countryside? The symbol of war?
5.The image of the circle explained during the film, the circular structure of the film - and who actually lived and who died and when?
6.The first story: Words: Kiril working in the garden, the orthodox monk, the religious tradition of Macedonia, the monastery and its appearance, its isolation, the rocks and the sea, Kiril and his vow of silence, the life of prayer in the monastery, the friendship amongst the monks, his going to his cell at night, the sudden discovery of the girl and his reaction? His decision to report her, his change of heart? His allowing her to stay? The brutality of the interrogation and the search of the monastery? His keeping quiet? The discovery of the girl, his being called to account, his being expelled from the monastery? The abbot and the hitting, the embracing, the farewell? His experience and his choice about vocation? His giving support to the girl, taking her back to her village? The meeting with the group, her attack and her being shot? The photographer? Kiril's later phone call to Aleksander? The religious tradition of Macedonia, the antagonism towards Albania? Christian and Muslim? Violation and violence?
7.The second story: Faces: Anne and her work, being in touch with the wars in former Yugoslavia with the photos, the articles, the effect on her? Her meeting Aleksander, his return from Bosnia, their discussion of the war? His wanting to marry Anne? Her going out after refusing him, the discussions with her mother on the street? The phone call from Kiril? The meeting with Nick, the news of her pregnancy, going to dinner? Her confusion, the meal, trying to talk with him? His reaction? Wanting to make a go of the marriage? The background of the madman and his fighting with the waiter? The manager (from Ulster)? The sudden return of the madman, the indiscriminate firing, the brutality of the massacre, the fear of the people in the restaurant, Anne and her discovery that Nick was dead?
8.The third story: Pictures: Aleksander and his decision to return to Macedonia after 16 years, his travelling the world, Pulitzer Prize, his book? His being turned down by Anne? The purpose of his return, the travelling, the bus, the meeting with the people? The realisation that he had been the cause of death in Bosnia by the guard murdering a prisoner so that he could be photographed? His arrival in the city, its transformation, going out into the countryside, meeting the children playing war? Meeting Hana and the memories of the past? Her daughter? In his safekeeping? His meeting with his friends, the old man and the reconciliation, the violent young sons? The changed atmosphere, the hostility towards the Albanians? His decision to go back to his old home, its memories, the influence on him? People coming to see him, the discussions? The crisis about the girl? His decision to support her? His taking her away, the threat to him, his life, his decision to sacrifice his life for her? The symbolism of his death and allowing her to live? The implications of message for Macedonia and the battles in the Balkans?
9.The overall impact of the film, as narrative, as characterisation, as an exploration of the war, as an appeal to humanity?
