It is Friday, February 18th– 189 days since Jim (Levi Miller) and his fellow ANZACs left home. Amidst the continuous rainfall and long walks, they find it impossible to rest. The introduction is accompanied by flashbacks, allowing us to learn that in 1916, Jim was in the Western Australian outback working with his family and sheering sheep. However, Jim feels he should be doing something more valuable than looking after sheep. He is old enough to go to war and believes he could contribute to the battlefield. Jim also has the support and encouragement of close friends around him.
However, Jim’s father disagrees with him when he shares his desire to depart for war. Despite Jim’s attempts to persuade his father and his promise to return home after six months, his father will not agree. Despite this, Jim leaves his family farm anyway and enlists in the military. Once on the battlefield, Jim faces many challenges and experiences that he hopes will help him serve his country and eventually return home to his family once again.
Before Dawn is a film based on real-life events, as documented in diary entries by World War I ANZACs. It is directed by Jordon Prince-Wright, who has experience making films set in the Australian outback. The director’s primary focus was to provide a realistic portrayal of the events while highlighting some untold stories from Australian history.
Although the film has many enjoyable aspects, minor issues hinder it from being more remarkable and memorable. Performances throughout are satisfactory; however, it’s unsurprising that the actor Levi Miller, who plays Jim, steals the show with his outstanding performance and strong emotion. On the other hand, many of the supporting performances are disappointing, and the film’s script falls short. Even during crucial moments, the dialogue sounds stilted, as if the actors read lines directly off a script page for the first time.
Visually, I found many aspects appealing. The costumes and make-up designs are impressive, and the film works beautifully in this department. Action elements, including sound and large explosions that occur throughout, especially in the film’s finale, add a nice touch of realism and drama. However, the atmosphere at various times is questionable. For example, when you see men in a ditch fighting to survive, it’s challenging to be deeply invested in the characters, given the lack of atmosphere around them.
The film is told at a strange pace; the first half is plodding, and each scene feels like a segment or a chapter of Jim’s life while trying to survive and protect others on the battlefield. Thankfully, the film’s finale does end more strongly and feels excellent. While I hate being harsh in reviews, I did find the film’s musical score completely unfitting, distracting and off-putting during most (if not all) scenes.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this dramatic war film. While some heart-warming moments and excellent acting are delivered mainly by the lead actor, Levi Miller, the side performances are questionable, and the dialogue delivery often seems wooden and clunky. Unfortunately, the movie’s first half is slow, and the music score does not fit well with the story. However, the film does end strongly and powerfully, and the costume designs and on-screen explosion effects are impressive and great to experience on the big screen. Before Dawn has some excellent elements but misses opportunities.
5.5/10
31st April 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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