Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
Director
Lav Diaz
Cast
Perry Dizon,
Roeder,
Hazel Orencio,
Karenina Haniel,
Reynan Abcede,
Mailes Kanapi
Genre
Drama
The Philippines, 1972. Mysterious things are happening in a remote barrio. Wails are heard from the forest, cows are killed, a man is found bleeding to death at the crossroad and houses are burned.
IndieWire by Eric Kohn
The endless chaos of nature embodies the abstract threat of imminent destruction; by imbuing these shots with a combination of mystical allure and darker possibilities, Diaz creates a haunting atmosphere that makes it possible to absorb the story even when it slows to a crawl.
Variety by Justin Chang
The fragile interplay of nature and civilization is best expressed in the way Diaz frequently sets the stage for each scene, allowing us to absorb the contours and details of every location before ever so gradually introducing human characters, looking small and ant-like, into the frame.
The Hollywood Reporter by Clarence Tsui
Whereas there are still long takes aplenty, most of them startlingly exquisite, the film feels, for once, very urgent in relaying the faultlines of real Filipino history.
CineVue by Ben Nicholson
Diaz's From What Is Before is an enthralling, thought-provoking, elegant and tragic wonder.
The Film Stage
While the historical scope of From What Is Before is huge, its emotional palette is a bit limited.
Loading recommendations...
Loading recommendations...