Inside Out 2019: Before You Know It Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto Inside Out Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

It’s only a few moments into Before You Know It before the hallmarks of a Sundance film start to scream out. Centered around arrested development, family dynamics, enough New York-ness to make Noah Baumbach and Woody Allen blush, and that classic film fest quirk, there’s a fresh realness to this film that moves it above millions of contemporaries.

The story here follows Rachel (Utt) as she moves through these classic dramedy landmines, the film mines pathos from great performances, and restrained direction. Having also co-written and directed the film, Before You Know It serves as a perfect display of Utt’s talent. Meanwhile as a performer, she’s restrained and frank, playing her character with an edge that’s sharply noticed.

As a director, Utt moves the camera lightly and playfully, helping juxtapose the more didactic and narrative-heavy dramatic beats and the flowy humor of the film. While the film is not particularly perfect in anyway, there’s still enough here so that before you know it, you’ll be wrapped up.

Oh, and a few familiar faces happen to show up which will surely have you scratching your head while also being equally delighted by their inclusion.

*still courtesy of the Sundance Institute*

If you liked this, you can find me on Twitter at @selfseriousness.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Ethan Gordon