Follow us on Twitter | Instagram
“I would wait a little before telling people. I think it’s too soon”
A character in the short film ‘Before You’ spits lightly after saying those words to her young, pregnant relative, a gesture meant to ward off bad luck. The moment instantly reminded me of a conversation with a friend, who once shared that it’s customary in their family not to announce a pregnancy until the fifth month. It may sound old-fashioned or superstitious to some today, but traditions like these exist for a reason.
Written and directed by Lauren Melinda, ‘Before You’ isn’t really about belief systems, but about the deeply personal journey of Maia (Tala Ashe), a young woman whose first pregnancy doesn’t go as planned.
The fifteen-minute film opens with a tense Maia seated in a car with her husband Avi (Adam Rodriguez), just as another vehicle carrying a baby passes them by. Maia looks visibly grief-stricken, while flashbacks reveal a much happier past, an earlier moment when she excitedly tells Avi that they’re about to become parents.
Lauren Melinda and her team quietly capture the inner turmoil of an expectant mother with remarkable restraint through ‘Before You’. The film relies on minimal dialogue, yet leaves a strong emotional impact through its visual storytelling and performances. There are no debates, no explanations, just raw simple action and reactions to the evolving situation.
One of Before You’s most effective scenes unfolds in a hospital waiting room, where Maia and Avi fill out a medical form as the lights subtly black out everyone else around them. The visual choice underscores how isolated the couple truly are in their private struggle, despite being physically surrounded by others. The moment grows more powerful as Avi calmly completes the paperwork while Maia appears to sink deeper into the couch, overwhelmed and alone.
In just 15 minutes, ‘Before You’ highlights how a mother’s emotional journey into parenthood often differs from a father’s, one that can never be entirely equal. The film relies on visual storytelling and quiet moments to explore grief, isolation, and maternal vulnerability. And while largely tragic in tone, it ends with a bright, hopeful, heart-warming scene, promising those watching – things get better.
Read Next: Mary Shelley Vs del Toro’s Frankenstein – 12 Differences (Audio Version Below)