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6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. After Tomorrow remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're into those old-school dramas that don't try to be too glossy, then yeah, maybe. If you want a breezy romance, keep walking. This movie is basically just watching two people get pulverized by their own relatives for an hour and a half.
There is this one scene where Peter is just trying to have a normal conversation, and the sheer amount of emotional baggage shoved into the frame is almost impressive. You can practically see the characters aging in real-time. It’s not exactly fun, but it’s real in a way that feels a bit dusty and sharp.
The pacing is… well, it’s a bit of a marathon. There are moments where the dialogue just drags on, and you’re sitting there wondering if they’re ever going to get to the point. Then someone says something so blunt it catches you off guard. It’s like watching a train wreck where the train is moving at about five miles per hour.
Honestly, the parents in this movie are exhausting. I found myself rooting for the couple to just move to another state and change their names. Some of these family dynamics remind me of the stifling pressure you see in Adam's Rib, though way less sophisticated and way more desperate.
It’s not perfect. The transitions between scenes are often jarring, like someone just cut the film with kitchen scissors. But there’s a grit to it that I actually kind of liked. It isn't trying to be a masterpiece, and that's probably why it works at all. ☕
You can tell the director was trying to capture that feeling of being trapped. It’s claustrophobic. By the time the credits rolled, I felt like I needed a long walk to clear my head. Maybe not a movie I’d watch twice, but it’s definitely one that sticks around in your brain for a bit.