The Fall Before Paradise

Every once in a while, a film comes along that for some reason, just blows you away. This was that once in a while. I saw this film at the Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles and I just couldn't believe my eyes. I think the thing that impressed me most was that this was a film done by first time writer/director/ producer with a "no-name" cast, shot in 18days, 2 months after 9/11 and the cast was from NYC! Sabrina Gennarino was simply spellbinding, I couldn't take my

eyes off her! And Tony Tsendeas and Shelley McPherson were just brilliant. If you get a chance, see this movie! And please, no comparing to a film with a

budget and time. Just Raw-Friggin-Talent that will, like fine wine, get better and better and better and...you get the picture. And what a powerful and brave thing Steve Gillilan did after the viewing. You go Steve! What a breath of fresh air honesty is. Visually amazing as it was shot in the Fall in Baltimore. I gotta tell ya...I wonder what you all could do on a real budget. I hope to find out

someday.

I was not going to comment on this movie, as there are some very positive reviews already posted, then i read the comment from "dave-colonna", and felt i should have my say. Mr dave-colonna's comments, are to me totally unfounded, and as he purports to be a "film maker", i would like to see some of his work, and have the chance to comment on it, He says it was that bad he walked out with out seeing the movie through to the end, well i do not know how he can comment on something he has not fully seen, his comment on nursing staff making sure all there patients take there medicine, is just petty, we all know how overworked and overused nurses are, and with the best intention in the world, i do not think that every nurse, in every hospital, will stand over the patient until the pills are swallowed. He also states that the acting is the worst he has seen,well the acting is not Oscar nominating material, but there is a heck of a lot worse out there, and for a cast that are "no names" for the want of a better word, they did a great job. I think Mr Dave C, needs to get out a little more, and go and see some really crap movies, and stop being so petty and i suppose jealous. I also predict that Sabrina Gennarino, who plays Maddie will be a big star, all in all it is not the greatest movie in the world, but not many are, however, it is a good film, i would watch it again, and if you give it a chance,i am sure you will enjoy it.

Saw this in Connecticut and couldn't disagree more with Dave Colonna. Very bold, however to give his name. I guess that's just in case any of the people who made his film want to remember who not to work with in the future. I do find it difficult when people claim to be film makers and blame the actors. I wish people who don't know what they are talking about, stop commenting on things they obviously know nothing about. I found Sabrina Gennarino to be brilliant and in fact I felt that she carried the film. I felt her direction was the strongest in the film. The woman who played Donna was also incredibly strong and got some great direction. I do feel the film left some unanswered questions and it could have been tied up much better in the end. But, fantastic for first time director and FILM MAKER, Steve Gilillian (I think I spelled that right, apologies if not). I look forward to a more experienced direction and a more seasoned writer in Gilillian and hope to see much more of Sabrina, Shelley (played Donna, I just looked it up) and the gentleman who brilliantly played the sleezy guy, Nate. Best of luck to all of you and looking forward to some great new careers.

For a low budget movie this scores high. It's entertaining, funny, sometimes deeply disturbing, but leaves us to question where the border between what we perceive as "real" and "imaginary" lies and how our perceptions of what constitutes, "sanity", for in "reality", who are we to say? I love what Sabrina Gennarino brings to the character of Maddie, her colourful and warm portrayal brings so much to the feel and pace of the movie and you just want to fall in love with her. This is certainly one of those movies you will want to come back to and enjoy over again.

Although billed as a 'thriller' on IMDb, THE FALL BEFORE PARADISE can better be described as a quirky and original supernatural drama, which, to its credit, does not take itself too seriously all the time. Following a screening at the Dances With Films fest, helmer Steve Gillilan revealed that the film was inspired by his own struggle with mental instability after living in L.A. for a relatively short period (the F. Scott Fitzgerald syndrome). But instead of making one of those pompous indie LA-bashing crack-up movies, Gillilan moved the setting to Baltimore, added a supernatural spin and created something a bit different.

The story focuses upon MAX, (played by Devere Jehl in a multi-dimensional performance), who is an introverted, tormented mental patient locked in an asylum struggling with visions of an abducted/abused child he must save in the outside world. But in order to do so, he needs the help of his overbearing, psychotic girlfriend Maddie (Sabrina Gennarino) to escape the asylum and help him make sense of his disjointed visions. The pairing of these two incompatible characters provides some much-needed comic punch when the story gets a bit heavy around the molestation-related scenes. It's evident that Maddie's over-the-top character may have been an afterthought (although probably a good one) to bump up the pace of the film.

Thus arises my greatest criticism. This movie could have been an excellent thriller or drama or maybe even comedy (although this would take some serious reworking) if the director had exclusively committed to any one of these three genres. Instead, the filmmaker juxtaposed elements of all three, resulting in a sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, sometimes thrilling story. But the result of Gillilan's brew is, surprisingly, a solid, well-executed film which holds up to movies made by more experienced directors with much larger budgets. The film's success is much owed to its creators' genuine dedication and love of the film itself.

8/10