After (2022)
After has been written, directed, and edited by Luke John Smith and features Thomas Loone and Nicole Sargent.
Synopsis: The film is about a man entering an exit interview where he begins negotiating terms, when it dawns on him the stakes of the interview are higher and he is negotiating his life.
’After’ examines the judgement we face and whether or not we should be judged for our actions at our ‘worst’ or ‘lowest’ points. It is set in purgatory and what a misery it is, a blank office space. There is often discussion about what life after death looks like and I thought it would be an interesting and tragically funny if it was an office. In life, we are entered into a rat race, formality and bureaucracy and you can’t escape it even in death.
Cedric is offered multiple chances to take accountability for his actions whilst living and seemingly does so before making a pass at Joanne. Joanne is conflicted as the prescriptive nature of her job means she has to send him down for a re-assessment, but believes that people are more nuanced and deserve a second chance. The theme of the prescriptive job I found interesting as it is present in work, religion and societal order. Often we have to ‘tow the line’ or follow pre-established rules.
