The Life Before This is a 1999 Canadian drama film directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.[1] It begins with a massacre perpetrated in a coffee shop by two gunmen, and then uses flashbacks to show how each of the people present found themselves in the shop on that day.[2]
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Peter Howell of the Toronto Star wrote that the film had a solid cast, but that "in seeking to make an Altmanesque story about the perfidy of fate surrounding the events leading to a cafe massacre, the movie follows dull characters too far and interesting ones not far enough."[5]
Deirdre Dolan of the National Post wrote that the initial shooting scene was stiffly acted and meaningfully paced, leading her to fear that she was about to watch "another self-important, amateur film", but opined that the film became more engaging once it shifted to explore the various decisions and choices that had led everybody to the café: "That we know their fates from the beginning only adds a layer of tension and meaning, an effect reminiscent of Robert Altman and good television."[6] Conversely, Marc Horton of the Edmonton Journal wrote that beginning the film with the shooting scene robbed it of any suspense.[7]
^"'The Life Before This' looks at chance and fate". Cambridge Times, April 25, 2000.
^Brent Ledger, "Ready for his three weeks at the Carlton: Gerry Ciccoritti's film opened yesterday and will probably be seen by far fewer people than have watched his TV work". National Post, November 27, 1999.
^Finnbar O'Reilly, "The Five Senses grabs a film festival top spot: The Toronto film festival's Canadian series explores themes ranging from a child's abduction to adolescence". National Post, July 28, 1999.
^Peter Howell, "The gang's all here". Toronto Star, November 26, 1999.
^Deirdre Dolan, "A gripping 12 hours in Toronto". National Post, September 15, 1999.
^Marc Horton, "Film, much like life itself, as fragile as a house of cards: A tad too heavy on cliches and light on suspense to work". Edmonton Journal, April 4, 2000.
