"Before the Rain" Taking Sides

"Before the Rain" (1994) illustrates the importance of "taking sides". What drives people to "take sides" and what happens when sides are taken? Milcho Manchevski examines this through three intertwined chapters which allow the viewer to gain the perspective of three unique individuals and follow their stories as sides are taken and the world is changed by their choices. These characters are examined through three chapters, "Words", "Faces" and "Pictures". "Words" focuses on a young monk, Kiril, caught between the world of vows and neutrality or love and passion. He chooses love by harboring a young Albanian girl who is suspected of murdering a Macedonian. He appears to be Macedonian himself as he makes reference to a Macedonian uncle, Aleksandar. "Faces" presents a young professional british woman, Anne, who is torn between an unassuming life with her husband in London or a passionate and possibly dangerous life with a Macedonian photographer. She chooses her husband and homeland as her lover, Aleksandar, leaves for Macedonia. But the danger is still in England as she realizes there is no escaping conflict. She is ironically caught in a crossfire arising from the same Balkan conflict she tried to avoid. "Photos" introduces Aleksandar, Anne's Macedonian lover, as a world renown photographer who desires to return to his homeland of Macedonia to escape his successful but emotionally and physically draining career as a war photographer. He believes Macedonia to be a peaceful refuge. When he returns to home he is forced to "take sides". Macedonia has been divided by a movement of nationalism which has divided Macedonian and Albanian neighbors. He must choose between his family and his Albanian true love. He attempts neutrality to no avail. When he stands up for the young Albanian girl suspected of murdering his cousin, he is shot by his own family.

This film does not attempt to be a tale told from beginning to end. In fact, it's nonlinear nature has found its fair share of critics. If the critics view the details of the film carefully, the circular nature of the storytelling lends itself nicely to the notion that, Universally, it is the "sides we take" and the decisions we make that impact our world dramatically. A look at the future can sometimes give us a better perspective on the past. Some of the visual cues, the photos of the Nazi concentration camps in Anne's drawer, may have been overkill, but it cannot be denied that some of the dangers that Manchevski fears are approaching the region are foreshadowed by the violence that has already taken place. The late 1990's found the conflict between Macedonians and Albanians increasing. This aligns with Manchevski's prediction. Was this a vain attempt to warn his homeland of the threat of conflict and that if lines are drawn future peace may be risked? Or, was Manchevski simply giving a personal snapshot of his homeland in order to gain recognition for himself and his country? Regardless of his intentions "Before the Rain" did get the attention of the world. It portrayed the Macedonian landscape, culture, social pressures and struggles. It introduced the world to a nation looking for an identity and forced to "take sides".

There is one particular review that I would like to take the opportunity to dispute. John Simon's review “Wild and Wilder”, National Review, 47 April 3, 1995: 66-67 is less than approving of the chronological order, or lack of order, to "Before the Rain". It is not so much that I disapprove of his personal discomfort with the nonlinear flow of the movie, it is his lack of attention to detail that was disappointing. He believes scenes to be confusing. He describes the scene in which Anne is looking at pictures of the strife-torn Balkans taken by her lover-- he mentions the photos shot of Kiril and Zamira, the monk and young Albanian runaway. He makes a reference that these are taken by Aleksandar. He misses the fact that there could have been another photographer at the scene. Anne traveled to Macedonia and is present at Aleksandar's funeral. There are other details that if the audience is open and watchful dictate the passage of time. The repeated reference to the circle that never ends alerts the audience immediately to be mindful of details that repeat. Photographs, people, and places all are used to indicate time and references to the continuance of time.