Before the Rain

Before the Rain

24/2/1995 1h 53m 7.4/10

Overview

The circularity of violence seen in a story that circles on itself. In Macedonia, during the war in Bosnia, Christians hunt an ethnic Albanian girl who may have murdered one of their own. A young monk who's taken a vow of silence offers her protection. In London, a photographic editor who's pregnant needs to talk it out with her estranged husband and chooses a toney restaurant.

Director

Vanja Aljinovic

Top Billed Cast

Katrin Cartlidge

Katrin Cartlidge

Anne

Labina Mitevska

Labina Mitevska

Zamira

Grégoire Colin

Grégoire Colin

Kiril

Rade Šerbedžija

Rade Šerbedžija

Aleksander

Phyllida Law

Phyllida Law

Anne's Mother

Silvija Stojanovska

Silvija Stojanovska

Hana

Reviews

deepkino

9/17/2025

8/10

'Pred dozhdot' (Before the Rain) is a cinematic masterpiece that masterfully weaves together three seemingly disparate narratives to craft a profound and melancholic meditation on the cyclical nature of hatred, violence, and ethnic conflict. Set against the backdrop of the early 1990s in Macedonia, the film explores the devastating impact of war on human relationships and the tragic inevitability of history repeating itself. The brilliance of the film lies in its circular narrative structure, which subverts traditional linear storytelling to emphasize the inescapable cycle of violence. The film's non-chronological order blurs the lines between past, present, and future, building a sense of timelessness that underscores the enduring nature of human conflict. The film's visual language is equally stunning, with cinematographer Manaki Brothers's breathtaking shots of the Macedonian landscape serving as a poignant contrast to the brutality unfolding on screen. However, it is the film's sadly topical message that resonates most deeply. The film's exploration of ethnic tensions between Orthodox Christians and Albanian Muslims is a powerful and unsettling reminder of the real-world conflicts that continue to plague the world today. The film's characters are not simply victims or perpetrators, but complex human beings caught in the crossfire of history. 'Pred dozhdot' is a hauntingly beautiful and deeply moving film that serves as a timely and timeless warning against the dangers of intolerance and hatred.

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