The Life Before This is a 1999 Canadian drama film directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.Gerald Pratley, A Century of Canadian Cinema. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 125. 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."'The Life Before This' looks at chance and fate". Cambridge Times, April 25, 2000.
The film was inspired by the Just Desserts shooting of 1994.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.
The film premiered at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival.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.
Cast
Response 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."Peter Howell, "The gang's all here". Toronto Star, November 26, 1999.
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."Deirdre Dolan, "A gripping 12 hours in Toronto". National Post, September 15, 1999. Conversely, Marc Horton of the Edmonton Journal wrote that beginning the film with the shooting scene robbed it of any suspense.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.
Catherine O'Hara won the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 20th Genie Awards.John McKay, "Genies a bright spot for Sunshine". Kingston Whig-Standard, January 31, 2000.
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