This month, starting with New York on July 11 and Los Angeles on July 18, with additional markets releasing on July 25, The Film Collective releases Before We Forget, a new film that is the directorial debut of Dallas and Fuller House actor Juan Pablo Di Pace who helms the movie with co-director Andrés Pepe Estrada. The late TV icon Norman Lear was an Executive Producer on the coming-of-age movie about a young Argentine filmmaker named Matias (Santiago Madrussan) who is trying to finish a movie about his formative friendship with a Swedish classmate named Alexander that he met (played by Gotham Knights’ Oscar Morgan) at a boarding school in 1997. The shy Matias sees this as a way to start a new life, away from Argentina, and explore his true self… feelings that are heightened when he meets another student named Alexander who is taken from the experience far too soon.
Now, nearly three decades later, the older Matias (played by Di Pace) is struggling with this film, and faces the possibility of reuniting with Alexander once again as adults. So much was unsaid about their relationship that was cut short, and even though they spent some time together one Christmas, it still felt like a lot was unresolved. In hopefully finishing the movie and seeing his old friend, we see if this mixture of memories and renewed contact finally give Matias the closure he wanted.
Personally speaking, I don’t know Juan Pablo Di Pace’s personal history, but I got the distinct feeling that this was, at least in part, a semi-autobiographical tale, as there is so much heart and focus on the Matias character in both eras, and the emotions felt on the screen look real. Di Pace is one of those people who deserves a lot more credit and exposure here in the United States – he’s already proven himself a capable actor, dancer and musician – it’s still almost baffling that the same actor who played such a conniving character on Dallas and even played Jesus dould also turn around and play someone as silly as “Fernando” on Fuller House (and we love him for it). Now, he can add “writer” and “director” to his list of talents. There are many layers to Matias — and many of them revolve on the appearances he has to keep up because he feels he has to. Immediately upon arriving at the school, young Matias has to dance a tango with a girl on his first day — when, as he later finds out, there’s a boy in the audience that he’d certainly rather be dancing with. This is echoed later in the film when Alexander’s sister (Julie Bender) has a somewhat aggressive interest in him. The story, regardless of one’s own sexuality, is identifiable, as we all have had instances when growing up of longing for someone, especially in young life. Santiago Madrussan plays the young Mati so well, with the right amount of enthusiasm, awkwardness, and tenderness required of this role.
One part of the movie I wasn’t really feeling as much, unfortunately, was the Alexander character. It might be that I’m old even though I’m roughly the same age as the characters from the film, or maybe it’s that sometimes we glorify what certain people represented in our lives, but I found Alexander to be incredibly annoying. He was a constant flirt, and it’s no wonder Matias developed feelings for him based on the things that he said or did. I believe Oscar Morgan was doing what he was hired to do, but I felt at times like I was watching the Joker rather than Batman’s son (see what I did there?) In the more subdued moments, it’s great to see the interaction he and Madrussan have as the younger versions of the characters, though. Even if the character didn’t work as well for me, you can see and understand why he could bring such a strong reaction from Mati – especially since it seemed that Alexander was everything outgoing that he wishes he could possibly be.
There are some fun characters sprinkled through – I LOVED the actors who played the parents of both Mati and Alex, with Matias’ mother’s glasses in both eras bringing special amusement. You can see why the younger characters may have ended up the ways that they did, but you also see there is more to some than meets the eye. These tender moments are, again, seemingly brought on by creative talents who know how important a parent can be to a young person. I also failed to earlier mention Matias’ friend Paolo, who in both eras represents that childhood friend who is always there for you even if your bond isn’t as strong anymore due to changes in your life. It’s actually a bit surprising that the older Matias shuts Paolo out from seeing his unfinished cut of the movie, as his feedback would surely mean the most… but at the same time, it might want to be a story that Matias wants to tell just right because he wants to honor and share with those who were actually there.
The look of the film is great with what appeared to be real-life locations being used. That added to the authenticity and the feeling of the movie. I also assume from the credits that several of the extras playing students at the school actually were from the school, which gave the film an even richer authentic vibe to set the tone. It’s clear to me that Di Pace has taken a lot in from the creative talents that he has worked with in the past and present to make an impactful directorial debut like this one.
Finally, while some beats are a little predictable, I’m more impressed by the moments in the film that were a bit unexpected. I don’t want to dwell more on this, but I will say the movie left me feeling good, and it all tied together to a make for a quite beautiful story. I myself am a very nostalgic person, and to see a movie where a lead character is facing his past in such a way is fascinating. Movies are supposed to tell a story and make you feel something… Before We Forget accomplished that. It’s definitely worth seeing, especially for those out there who may have had that long-lost love interest. The film has already received high marks and awards at film festivals internationally, but the success — and people buying tickets — can and will ensure that more stories like this can be told.