BEFORE I FALL
US, 2017, 99 minutes, Colour.
Zoe Deutch, Halston Sage, Logan Miller, Kian Lawley, Jennifer Beals.
Directed by Ry Rosso- Young.
Before I Fall is based on a novel for young adult readers, principally female young readers.
The film opens with the repetition of sequences that remind audiences of Mean Girls, a group of teenagers who are very sure of themselves on the surface, relying on one another and a leader to validate their self-image, critical of others, catty amongst themselves, condemnatory of the girls that they do not approve of.
These opening sequences are a reminder that it is necessary to wait till the end of the film because the tone could well change – and with this one, it does.
Samantha, Zoe Deutch, is at the centre of this film, the I of the title, speaking in voice-over about herself and this special day in February, Cupid’s Day at school, where roses are distributed amongst favoured girls. What Samantha says is rather ominous because it sounds as if something terrible is going to happen to her.
However, we follow her during the day, rather haughty, not wanting to get up, critical of her little sister with her gift of an origami bird, rather neglectful her parents, meeting the girls in her clique, travelling to school, class, the roses, encountering a young man, Kent, in the school corridor, Samantha with a condom because of the plan to connect sexually with boyfriend, Rob, that evening. At the party where they all gather, an isolated girl, Juliet, whom they loathe appears and is ridiculed, running out of the room. Samantha then finds herself in the car and it crashes – only for her to wake up in bed and it is the same day.
And older audiences are remembering Groundhog Day.
Which means that Samantha has to live the day over and over again, the audience noticing the sameness, the differences, Samantha becoming a bit more appropriately self-conscious, seeing through Lindsey, the catty leader of the group, befriending the young man in the corridor – but, basically, the same things again.
And, eventually, this is where the moral of the story comes in. Samantha begins to take stock of herself, critical of her attitudes towards her sister and her mother, becoming nicer to both and to her father, speaking directly to Lindsey and the other girls, befriending Kent and having deep and meaningful discussions with him, learning more about the disliked Juliet and the reasons for the dislike, especially unjust attitudes from Lindsey.
The ending is not quite what we were imagining – but, Samantha has become a better person from her living the same day over and over again, a kind of purgatorial experience for her.
Which means that there is a moral for the young adult audience and a bit of saving grace for the older audience.
1. The title, Samantha and her explanation, the premonition of death? Living the one day, over and over, finally, her death?
2. The echoes of Mean Girls, the friends, catty, their attitude towards others, the click? The attitude towards Juliet? The echoes of Groundhog Day? Audience familiarity, interested to see variations on themes?
3. The Washington State town, the homes, the mountain scenery? The school? The classes, the corridors, Cupid’s Day? The girls at the home, getting together? The party? Kent’s room? The woods and the highway? The musical score?
4. The first part of the film, the impact of the audience about the Mean Girls? Younger audiences identifying, girls identifying? The reaction of adults – impatience with the attitudes of the girls and their behaviour?
5. The day itself, Samantha waking, her sister and the origami bird, Samantha’s disdain, not having breakfast? Being picked up by the girls, with Lindsey, the other girls, their chatter, mean-minded? Their style? At school, Cupid’s Day and the distribution of roses? The comparisons? The teacher and his reference to Sisyphus and his kind of Groundhog Day experience? The special rose and the note for Samantha, the puzzle? Kent and his being late, his concern for Samantha? The encounter in the corridor? The issue of sex, Rob, the condom? The dining room, the meal, the girls together, their disdain of Juliet? Later in the day, the preparation of the party, their chatter, getting dressed? The party itself, Kent the room, Rob and his drinking, Juliet arriving, their condemnation, taunting her, her rushing out? In the car, the experience of the crash? Waking up again?
6. The repetition of the day? Samantha and her bewilderment? The repetitions, the variations? The continued waking? Audiences anticipating what was to happen? The differences? The effect of many days on Samantha?
7. The moral change, her wanting to do something with her life, examining herself, her friends?
8. The improvement, the origami bird and kindness to her sister, the bonds between them? The meal with her parents, praising her mother for being beautiful – and the memories of being rude to her mother? Seeing the girls differently, their chatter, clashing with Lindsey, Lindsey and her backbiting, the back story of Juliet in the previous friendship, the camp, the wetting the bed, the truth about Lindsay, her parents and the divorce?
9. The differences, Samantha and her intentions, the parents’ surprise, the reaction of the girls, yet her trying to reconcile with them and speak the truth to them about themselves? The teacher and Sisyphus? The Cupid’s Day, Rob and her deciding not to have sex with him? The encounters with Kent, his room, talking, memories of the past? The kiss?
10. Juliet, the repetition of the scene with her, Samantha trying to help her, to apologise, the chase in the woods, the irony of Juliet running onto the road, the cars, Samantha trying to save her and herself being killed? The shock for Juliet?
11. A kind of purgatorial experience for Samantha so that she would live her last day better?
