I like the way the director has introduced his two main characters. We know that Lee pushed his girlfriend only when she taunted him. When he's put into the police car, his face reveals no hostility, only resignation and sadness. When a guy cruises him outside of the convenience store, he exhibits no hostility, only bewilderment, after he flashbacks to his father's truck stop adventures, opens his first beer, and drives away.
Ben is well liked by his staff and colleagues, and only exhibits surprise that a welder has made his way into the party given for Chuck, a party filled with professionals linked to local businesses and agencies. Though he's elitist, he's not unkind, just a bit taken aback. At the courthouse, when Ben says, "Some drunk who beat up his girlfriend," unknowingly within earshot of Lee, he was just repeating what he'd just been told by a clerk, at the end of a long day that's just gotten unexpectedly longer. And so, the director presents his two characters' flaws from the start, but neither is presented as unlikeable.
Lee is assumed to be straight, but he's had no physical interest in his girlfriend. On the hike, she comments she has no interest in hiking, but has tagged along only to please Lee. He quickly responds "I don't mind hiking alone." On the first hike, she says, "Oh, the party I wasn't invited to." There is nothing between them. She dislikes that his AA meetings have caused him to accept others and himself, saying, "ever since his AA meetings, he's become 'Lee the Tolerant.'" So she's against self-discovery.
After three bad encounters between Lee and Ben, things only begin to thaw at the first visit to the cabin, which takes place more than halfway through the film. This first amicable conversation begins when Ben starts asking Lee questions about his court case, and when he apologizes for his insensitive remarks at court, and when Lee completely faces up to his faults, and says it was all for the good, because it's forced him to finally take some responsibility for his actions. Noble sentiments for someone who has been wrongfully accused, which Ben learned from his date with Lee's attorney.
Once the initial insults and injuries stop, Lee and Ben have a continual positive effect on each other, as Ben says, "I'm sorry for what I said," and Lee says, "I appreciate what you did," and as Ben writes his affirming corrections over Lee's self-loathing journal entries. After Ben returns Lee's journal, and confesses to having read entries that show "a guy who's being too hard on himself," it's Lee who invites Ben to join him on a hike.
Ben and Lee's first hike together is an effortless sharing, and shows in a very brief scene how well suited they are to each other. We learn that Lee was studying geology in college. Ben had already told Jane of his sense that there is more to Lee than meets the eye, that "he's not your typical loser." We learn more about Lee's self-deprecation, with three cutaway shots of Ben's intent stare as he listens and learns more about Lee. It seems that this is the moment when falls in love with Lee.
Despite this thaw in the ice, Lee finds out about Ben's interference in Chuck and Jane's relationship, and harshly calls him out. This becomes the catalyst for Ben's questioning of his own values, and his actions to make things right, which propel the remaining scenes in this film. Ben now advises Jane differently, reminding her that "he loves you, and you love him. How often does that happen?" He admits his only plan for success has been in making money. At the cabin, Chuck tells Lee he can't stop thinking about Jane. At that point, a look comes over Lee's face, as he realizes someone has been on his mind as well.
The subplot of Chuck and Jane therefore have a purpose, in displaying an uncomplicated relationship, and one that positively affects the far more complicated issues dividing Lee and Ben.
Lee has told Chuck "I'm screwed up," and told Ben "there are things about me I don't like." We know he equates being gay with negatives. So when Ben courageously says "I love you," Lee's immediate anger is the same knee-jerk reaction we saw when he pushed his girlfriend. No, not me. But when he reaches the bottom of the hill, and walks slower and slower, until he stops, he looks back up. He realizes that Ben has already backed up his love confession with action, and that there is nothing cheap or overly sexual here. And we know that Lee canceled his plans for Atlanta, and that he has expressed increased appreciation for Ben to his jealous girlfriend. And so, the director has prepared us very well for this final scene, which includes the most tender kiss I've ever seen in any film.
Ben and Lee find each other, only after they figure out who they are themselves. And so, "Before the Fall" presents a story of hard-won personal growth and personal fulfillment, resulting in a loving relationship. "How often does that happen?" Only when two people decide to put in the work.
The director has certainly put in the work to carefully build his story, scene by scene. The story, structure, pacing, direction, and acting are so good as to eclipse any production gaffes, no doubt due to financial constraints. And so I recommend "Before the Fall" as an uplifting film that can be enjoyed again and again.
Ben is well liked by his staff and colleagues, and only exhibits surprise that a welder has made his way into the party given for Chuck, a party filled with professionals linked to local businesses and agencies. Though he's elitist, he's not unkind, just a bit taken aback. At the courthouse, when Ben says, "Some drunk who beat up his girlfriend," unknowingly within earshot of Lee, he was just repeating what he'd just been told by a clerk, at the end of a long day that's just gotten unexpectedly longer. And so, the director presents his two characters' flaws from the start, but neither is presented as unlikeable.
Lee is assumed to be straight, but he's had no physical interest in his girlfriend. On the hike, she comments she has no interest in hiking, but has tagged along only to please Lee. He quickly responds "I don't mind hiking alone." On the first hike, she says, "Oh, the party I wasn't invited to." There is nothing between them. She dislikes that his AA meetings have caused him to accept others and himself, saying, "ever since his AA meetings, he's become 'Lee the Tolerant.'" So she's against self-discovery.
After three bad encounters between Lee and Ben, things only begin to thaw at the first visit to the cabin, which takes place more than halfway through the film. This first amicable conversation begins when Ben starts asking Lee questions about his court case, and when he apologizes for his insensitive remarks at court, and when Lee completely faces up to his faults, and says it was all for the good, because it's forced him to finally take some responsibility for his actions. Noble sentiments for someone who has been wrongfully accused, which Ben learned from his date with Lee's attorney.
Once the initial insults and injuries stop, Lee and Ben have a continual positive effect on each other, as Ben says, "I'm sorry for what I said," and Lee says, "I appreciate what you did," and as Ben writes his affirming corrections over Lee's self-loathing journal entries. After Ben returns Lee's journal, and confesses to having read entries that show "a guy who's being too hard on himself," it's Lee who invites Ben to join him on a hike.
Ben and Lee's first hike together is an effortless sharing, and shows in a very brief scene how well suited they are to each other. We learn that Lee was studying geology in college. Ben had already told Jane of his sense that there is more to Lee than meets the eye, that "he's not your typical loser." We learn more about Lee's self-deprecation, with three cutaway shots of Ben's intent stare as he listens and learns more about Lee. It seems that this is the moment when falls in love with Lee.
Despite this thaw in the ice, Lee finds out about Ben's interference in Chuck and Jane's relationship, and harshly calls him out. This becomes the catalyst for Ben's questioning of his own values, and his actions to make things right, which propel the remaining scenes in this film. Ben now advises Jane differently, reminding her that "he loves you, and you love him. How often does that happen?" He admits his only plan for success has been in making money. At the cabin, Chuck tells Lee he can't stop thinking about Jane. At that point, a look comes over Lee's face, as he realizes someone has been on his mind as well.
The subplot of Chuck and Jane therefore have a purpose, in displaying an uncomplicated relationship, and one that positively affects the far more complicated issues dividing Lee and Ben.
Lee has told Chuck "I'm screwed up," and told Ben "there are things about me I don't like." We know he equates being gay with negatives. So when Ben courageously says "I love you," Lee's immediate anger is the same knee-jerk reaction we saw when he pushed his girlfriend. No, not me. But when he reaches the bottom of the hill, and walks slower and slower, until he stops, he looks back up. He realizes that Ben has already backed up his love confession with action, and that there is nothing cheap or overly sexual here. And we know that Lee canceled his plans for Atlanta, and that he has expressed increased appreciation for Ben to his jealous girlfriend. And so, the director has prepared us very well for this final scene, which includes the most tender kiss I've ever seen in any film.
Ben and Lee find each other, only after they figure out who they are themselves. And so, "Before the Fall" presents a story of hard-won personal growth and personal fulfillment, resulting in a loving relationship. "How often does that happen?" Only when two people decide to put in the work.
The director has certainly put in the work to carefully build his story, scene by scene. The story, structure, pacing, direction, and acting are so good as to eclipse any production gaffes, no doubt due to financial constraints. And so I recommend "Before the Fall" as an uplifting film that can be enjoyed again and again.