Tomorrow Before After

Particularly if the viewer is a fan of dystopian future/post-apocalyptic movies, Tomorrow Before After is a movie worth our time. The narrative is not spectacular, and although there is a message worth listening to, it is not groundbreaking insightful. What we are presented with, instead, is a heroine, alone, despondent, with fractured questions, perhaps, survivor's guilt and a character seemingly living in a day-to-day modus operandi that might just barely guarantee her and her unborn's survival. We sit and watch not only the decaying world our heroine lives in, displayed in Alfonso Quijada's wonderful cinematography, but where this world is visited by the wonderful acting of Natalia Reyes Gaitan's complex approach to her, frustrating at times, but ultimately likable character. The movie, although introducing, maybe unnecessarily, unanswered misteries here and there, is very likely a study of what life could be like, for some, if we as social creatures were to be deprived of that umbrella of protection we call "having someone to share our lives with, having company," and that alone is worth our time.

More than a movie, Tomorrow Before After is an encounter with our fears, but also with our hope.

From the beginning to the end it makes us think on how self-destructive we can be, but also on the wonderful power we have to start over and transform our destiny.

The sound and its soundtrack become the perfect partner for Natalia, helping us to feel firsthand the internal struggle of the protagonist.

Apocalyptic locations, impeccable art direction and a great cinematography, show us that Colombia is a perfect place to produce movies.

When we reach the last scene of the film, we can understand that the end is nothing more than the opportunity to start over.

If you are looking for excitement, don't look here. This well made apocalyptic film is very slow moving as life probably would be if you were the last person alive on Earth and that is what this film is about. I truly expected this to be a piece of junk, but it is more than that, though there are quite a few issues. Through near constant narration we learn we are told that first there was a pandemic that killed billions followed by a war that killed the rest. Later we hear about what sounds like an alien invasion. Perhaps that is who the war was with?! It is never made clear. The narration itself could also be a bit better, but cinematography is quite good and the acting by the lead, Natalia Reyes, is very strong much of the time. It's a hard role to pull off being the only person on screen, though later joined by a German Shepard. It's about a solitary life among the ruins leaving us with just her and the dog. There is an enormous question hanging over this that is never answered. Why only her? What makes her so special? I did really like the last scene which implies that this is the beginning of a new world.

This is a saga and, I can definitely see this chapter as a Love it or hate it one. It is not everyone who would have the set of mind of sitting down to watch just a couple of characters interact and specially, watching one of them while she loses her mind due to bizarre yet, understandable situations.

I took this movie as an empathetic path of walking the characters' journey with her; as a human, as a woman, as a mother. Also, it is a game of wondering since you must keep your mind open to not getting all the answers.

We are used to all too fast, too full and, sometimes, too obvious content. This movie definitely has a different angle.

I can also appreciate a movie of this technical level being brought to Colombia with so much love. I had the privilege of listening first hand, at the Cartagena 62nd Film Festival, how this movie was shot during the pandemic and under quite extreme circumstances.

...what... I watched Alfonso Quijada's first movie The Whisper of Silence a couple of days ago and I had to watch his next movie! And... what? Is this guy for real? Where does he gets his ideas? Both films are rare... unique but as I get to know Quijada I see that he is either smoking some serious stuff or he is from another planet. I love this film. Natalia Reyes sure steps up as a solo actress, a long way from the generic Tim Miller Terminators ... no, this is another leve of performace. The art direction is impressive and I need to see more from the art director, Colombian Hernan Garcia! A film that requieres indulging its thought provoking agenda. Yes, agenda... for there way more behind that one can persive.