"I never grow tired of watching BEFORE THE RAIN. It is, first, a stunningly beautiful piece of cinematography. The camera pans natural vistas, churches, London streets, and the faces of the interlocking characters with sensitivity, wisdom, and love. The three parts of the film mesh with perfect paradox, underscoring the recurring theme that time is not a circle. We see the young, the old, the weak, the strong, the living, and the dead all intermingling with an incoherent rap song which blasts from speakers the world over. The pacing is ideal; the plot is ingenious; the message is eternal. BEFORE THE RAIN should be reissued on videocassette and offered on DVD. It moves me as much as any film I've ever seen. Even American high-school students are captivated by it, and that in itself in a small miracle!"
Great film about a great tragedy
Luiza Vartavarian | Chicago | 09/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In watching this movie you can understand the Balkan conflict better than if you readfive books on the subject. It is about the power of war crushing the innocence of love. good acting all around and wonderful cinematography. We need a DVD relase of this one! those reading this review please tell amazon you want a DVD version, as more and more people switch exclusively to DVD it would be a shame of if this gem were forgotten."
Captures the Haunting Spirit of Place and Time
EriKa | Iceland | 10/02/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dark, dramatic, mysterious, intriguing laments in musical form that perfectly fit with the film of the same name. The music is at once gripping, captivating, alluring, and even dangerous. It intoxicates and transports you to the place and time of the music. Indeed, it is an experience to listen to it. This is the mark of a great soundtrack, I think. One which can be taken outside the context of the film for which it was made and played again and again, still evoking the images of the film (or evoking other, perhaps more powerful feelings). I loved this film (also highly recommend it), but the soundtrack is exquisite and stands alone as a musical achievement."
Powerful Drama, In Need of a DVD Issue
Archel | 04/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although this movie is currently out of print in VHS in the US, if you go to the DVD section of Amazon and do a search for it you can sign up to be notified should it ever get a DVD issue. Amazon also indicates that it will let the studio know that there are people hoping for a DVD release."
A modern masterpiece on ancient Macedonian foundations
Archel | Sydney, Australia | 01/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These compositions are a brilliant modern showcase of traditional Macedonian music, combining stylistic, rhythmic and melodic influences from Macedonia's rich culture (which has been developing since several hundred years before Christ) with modern compositional insight, including brilliant arrangements. Anastasia is one of Macedonia's most professional, cohesive, progressive and most talented bands in a while (along with 'Synthesis,' who are probably even better).Outstanding musicianship with FEEL most bands can only dream of.This should be in every serious music fan's collection.There are only about four albums around of this style and magnitude, including two from Anastasia (this and 'Melourgia') and two from DD Synthesis (a self-titled album and 'Swinging Macedonia,' which IMHO is the best)."