Title: Before I Disappear

Starring: Shawn Christensen, Fatima Ptacek, Emmy Rossum, Paul Wesley and Ron Perlman

Harrowingly struggling to find the true purpose in your life, and bravely fighting against with the morally correct decisions surrounding, despite the consequences those actions might cause, is a commendable effort that most people don’t follow through with until they’re forced to face the distressing obstacles in their lives. ‘Before I Disappear,’ the new independent drama that marks the feature film directorial and acting debuts of screenwriter Shawn Christensen, grippingly explores the heartfelt reunion between an estranged family. At the same time, the story is brazenly set in a dangerous criminal world, where a single unfortunate event has the potential to ultimately end the radical transformation of a troubled man who’s determined to improve his life, in the name of his reunified family.

‘Before I Disappear,’ which unfolds over one emotionally turbulent night in New York City, follows Richie (Christensen), a seemingly hopeless introvert, who has decided he has had enough with his existence. He’s unable to cope with the fact that he has lost the love of his life, Vista (Isabelle McNally), and continuously tries to write her a letter, explaining the reasoning for his actions, but is unable to find the right words to express his feelings. As he attempts to end his life, he gets a phone call from his estranged sister, Maggie (Emmy Rossum), who he used to have a closer relationship with when they were younger. Although they haven’t spoken in years, Maggie has found herself in a complex situation, and needs Richie to pick up her 11-year-old daughter from school.

Feeling guilty over the way they ended their relationship, Richie reluctantly agrees to help his sister, and goes to pick up his intelligent niece, Sophia (Fatima Ptacek), and escort her home. However, hours after dropping her off at the apartment she lives in with Maggie, Sophia calls her uncle, informing him that her mother hasn’t returned home yet, or even called her to let her know what’s going on. So Richie heads back to the apartment to figure out what happened to his sister.

Despite Sophia’s insistence that they go back to his apartment so that she can study for a test she has scheduled for the next morning, Richie instead brings her to both the bar and bowling alley where he works part-time jobs. He finds himself caught in a troublesome battle between Bill (Ron Perlman), who runs the bar and has acted like a father to Richie over the years, and Gideon (Paul Wesley), the successful young businessman who owns the bowling alley and wants to protect him, despite the fact they don’t truly know each other. Along the way, Richie realizes that even though he doesn’t want to betray either of his bosses, in an effort to keep both his jobs, Sophia has taught him that family and doing the right thing are the most important aspects in life.

‘Before I Disappear,’ the feature-length adaptation of Christensen’s 2012 short, ‘Curfew,’ which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, features another riveting performance from Ptacek, who reprised her role as the Type A and highly motivated Sophia. The 14-year-old actress brilliantly introduced her smart character as not easily being able to empathize and relate to people around her who aren’t as driven to excel in all aspects of their lives. Ptacek also captivatingly infused Sophia with a distinctive aloofness to her uncle, who she doesn’t remember meeting when she was a young child before he became estranged from her mother.

While the young pre-teen is determined to not become attached to Richie, after her father has emotionally hurt her for not expressing interest in spending time with her, Sophia slowly but enthrallingly develops a sentimental attachment to her uncle. Ptacek naturally showcases her character as needing to form a meaningful emotional familial bond with someone other than her mother, who she always undoubtedly depends on during times of crisis. Even though the intellectual girl is rightfully wary of starting to rely on Richie, particularly since before the night they met he had little ambition in his life, the actress effortlessly progressed her character to become more trusting of people who truly want to help her, despite their starkly different lifestyles.

While Ptacek also infused the strong-minded and motivated Sophia with a convincing sense of naivety over how people in the world truly interact, Wesley also infused a powerful presence into his portrayal of the equally determined and commanding Gideon. Even though Richie’s boss at the bowling alley is presented as a supporting character throughout the mesmerizing story Christensen penned for ‘Before I Disappear,’ Wesley powerfully commanded the few scenes he’s featured in.

The actor, who also served as a producer on the drama, initially unveiled Gideon as being concerned about Richie’s well-being, and sent his lawyer to help Maggie as a favor to his employee. His inspiring concern was intriguingly introduced after he had an intense conversation with Richie about his heartbreak over his girlfriend not returning his calls. Gideon’s failing romantic relationship is an underlying, yet motivational, situation the troubled protagonist had information about, but was afraid to reveal. While Gideon is happy to continue to help his employee and his troubles with his family, in part to forget his own grief over his girlfriend, Wesley powerfully transformed his captivating character’s personality after he received troubling information about the situation.

The enthralling and drastic shifts in the characters’ personalities, actions and motives throughout the defining night showcased in ‘Before I Disappear’ were mesmerizingly highlighted by the captivating production design by Scott Kuzio. Each of the riveting locations used in the drama were smartly utilized to reflect the current dilemma Richie was facing throughout the night, as he struggled to protect his niece. Kuzio cleverly presented the non-descript, tattered and shabby apartment Richie lived in, where he tried to end his life in his grungy bathroom, in stark contrast to the glitzy condominium Maggie lived in with her daughter. The drastically diverse locations where the siblings lived emphasized how Richie was still struggling to overcome the financially difficult childhood he and his sister endured. Meanwhile, Maggie’s more lavish dwelling proved that she was able to rise above her meager beginnings, even after she had her daughter while she was a teen herself, in an effort to provide a better lifestyle for Sophia.

Christensen enthrallingly adapted his Oscar-winning short, ‘Curfew,’ into a captivating feature film, ‘Before I Disappear,’ that effortlessly showcases the drastic measures people resort to when they feel their lives are spiraling out of control. While Richie feels as though his life is unfulfilled and has no hopes of recovering, particularly since he’s no longer involved with Vista and he’s working two dead-end jobs, the troubled protagonist finally begins to see hope for his future again after his revolutionary night with his niece. Supported by captivating performances by Ptacek and Wesley, as well as realistic and endearing locations designed by Kuzio, ‘Before I Disappear’ is a gratifying and realistic examination into the radical transformation of a once suffering man who finally begins to realize his life does have an important meaning and purpose.

Technical: B+

Written by: Karen Benardello