Tres días

Because of a "friend of a friend" I had the opportunity to see this new Spanish movie produced by Antonio Banderas and directed by Francisco Javier Gutierrez in the last Berlin International Film Festival. I have to confess that I'm not "catastrophe's movies friendly" but this film really surprised me. The movie is about the world ending in 3 days due to the imminent fall of a meteorite, however it actually focuses more on people's behaviour in a small town in the south of Spain which causes the audience to ask themselves "what would you do in your last 3 days of life?, would you try to enjoy your last moments or just take the chance to take revenge against the people you hate?. Good question.

I previously knew of director Francisco J. Gutierrez for his short film "Brasil" which was award winning in several festivals around the world. It is quite common to see young directors start and finish their professional life with an original and "short-life-short-film", but on this occasion Francisco J. really used the money in the right way. 3 days holds your attention from the beginning to the end, the characters are very real and really remind you of the people in your neighbourhood or office. Also the rhythm is correct and the photography just fantastic. From my point of view, a new cinema age is starting in Spain and "Before the Fall" is an example of it. Well done.

I personally cherish a vast fascination for apocalyptic-themed Sci-Fi & horror movies and have seen a truckload of titles in this style, but I can honestly state I have never seen anything quite like Javier Guttierez' "Before the Fall". It's one of the most emotionally unsettling, uniquely structured, unpretentiously honest and hauntingly beautiful movies I've ever seen in my life. "Before the Fall" isn't just a movie about an all-devastating meteorite; this is a movie about choices, personal sacrifices, unconditional devotion, persistence and even a tiny sparkle of hope. The vast majority of "the-end-is-near" movies deal with trying to find a method to prevent the apocalypse from happening and/or focus on a small group of people as they are preparing a new beginning for after the complete destruction. Guttierez' film – deeply impressive for a long feature debut – makes it pretty clear and irrefutable that there isn't any chance left of avoiding or surviving the Armageddon. The fade has been determined and everyone's doomed, but this magnificent parable handles about HOW to spend those precious last numbered days. This concept is utmost simplistic and straightforward but actually I haven't seen it in any other movie ever before, so even that "Before the Fall" is similar to a whole list of movies, it constantly feels original and courageous. The governments of all nations in the world one morning announce that a large meteorite will inevitably collide with earth in three days. They knew it longer already, but waited with the announcement in order to avoid anarchy, mass-hysteria and chaos as much as possible. That quickly turns out a wise decision, as anarchy, mass-hysteria and chaos are the only things ensuing after the announcement. The plot follows Ale, a small town carpenter who still lives with his mother and is generally regarded as a lazy and non-ambitious lowlife. Ale always lived in the shadows of his older brother Thomas, who became an immortal hero after helping to capture a notorious child murderer 15 years ago. Thomas is now successful, married and the father of four children. Immediately after the announcement of the upcoming apocalypse, riots in prison cause all criminals to escape, including the child murderer. Ale's mother is convinced the killer wants revenge against Thomas, but since he and his wife are abroad, she begs Ale to accompany her and protect the children. Ale is reluctant to spend existence's final three days babysitting, but gradually changes his mind as he notices the threat of the child killer is for real and because his nieces and nephews are still unaware of the imminent apocalypse. "Before the Fall" unfolds as a tragic drama, then converts into a highly exciting action-thriller and then eventually converts back into a tragic drama. Throughout the entire middle section, when Ale is trying to safeguard the children from a potential serial killer, the suspense and ambiance are so intense that you almost forget the Armageddon is approaching as well. Ale fights a battle to protect the kids and survive himself as well … only to die all together a couple of days later. As a viewer you constantly know this, but still you support and hope for Ale and the kids to remain alive as long as possible and even longer. "Before the Fall" is an enchanting, beautiful and thought-provoking movie with stupendous acting performances, chilling music and breath-taking filming locations. Careful sensitive viewers, as the movie also contains a handful of confronting bits of harsh violence, graphic bloodshed and nihilistic carnage. Easily the most overwhelming and dazzlingly brilliant movie I've seen in the past years; nothing short of a masterpiece.

This is the kind a movie I can't bear, the whole script rests on a main character who artificially postpones action in order to complete an hour and a half movie. I have the same feeling than watching Straw Dogs. As other comment says: "your guarding a bunch of helpless children from a known psycho, and a very suspicious stranger shows up when you are out in the middle of no where, you take him away from the house and you shoot him and then you shoot him again". You know the guy should shoot the bad guy from the very beginning, and there is no reason no to do so, you know and he knows... but we have to complete a movie.

The main character is also incoherent with his purpose of protecting the kids, leaving them alone, and breaking the unity of the family group. The action is done against basic human rules of behavior.

The acting is OK, is the writing and the whole movie concept that doesn't work.

I saw this movie in Espoo Cine (Helsinki). I'm still in shock. I really love it. I have never seen something like this. It's truly different, risky and original. A strange and hypnotic mix of genres (Sci-fi, thriller, horror, fantasy, drama), so well done, so powerful, so visual, so artistic, so straight, so special. Hard and tender at the same time. Yes, hard because of some intense sequences (there are some really controversial, violent, realistic and uncomfortable moments) but also moving and touching (this movie touches you something deep inside). Yes, this strange film is really hard on the surface but warm and tender under it (as the main character of the story). It's a rare, original and unusual tale of fears, love, pain and humanity. Since the moment it finished (with brave, brilliant and artistic shot full of sadness and beauty) I knew it: It's different, it's special, it's "unique".

I saw this at the Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) and although the director came out after the movie and tried to explain why he made the third act, the way he made it, I still wasn't really completely behind him or his concept. It is of course an independent production (even if a Mr. Banderas co-produced it or whatever) and the director was more than likable. But I, and many other as I can see by the votes here on IMDb, couldn't get over that final act and it's strange turn of events.

While the movie had many things going for it, up until that point (decent acting, a scenario where many things were possible and or plausible, especially because it is sci-fi after all), it seems to even hop genres at the end. What has worked for other directors before doesn't apply here. Unfortunately, because I really would have loved the movie more if it stayed, in it's lane (again the ending will appall many viewers, beware!)