Everything Before Us

Everything Before Us from 2015 is a uniquely exciting movie about love, set in the near future with Aaron Yoo, Brittany Ishibashi, and Brandon Soo Hoo leading the cast. The film deploys an imaginative concept that makes the story fascinating and, all the while, retaining a classic romantic narrative that audiences can connect with.

Directed by Wesley Chan and Philip Wang, Everything Before Us takes place in an alternative universe where every romantic relationship has a score, exactly like a credit score. This ‘Relationship Score’ is stored in a data-driven entity known as DEI (The Department of Emotional Integrity). Every person’s romantic history is logged likewise – every fight, every break-up, every sweet nothing, and every love-related emotion is kept on record. The complexity and depth of this concept embeds the film with a sci-fi layer and offers a refreshing perspective on the romantic genre, making it anything but your typical romantic flick.

This romantic dystopia presents us with two couples at different stages of their lives and relationships, each facing individual challenges. We see a youthful romance in the form of high school sweethearts Tim (Brandon Soo Hoo) and Haley (Victoria Park), who are just beginning to explore the complexities of love, experiencing their first emotional highs and lows while navigating their blooming relationship score.

In contrast, we also follow a more mature couple Ben (Aaron Yoo) and Sara (Brittany Ishibashi). Their storyline explores the other side of the love coin, focusing on a pair of emotionally bruised individuals who were once in love. Each carry their emotional baggage from their failed relationship, reflected in their DEI scores that even influence their careers. Their narrative reflects the painful consequences of pasts mistakes in love and deftly explores themes of forgiveness and second chances.

Throughout Everything Before Us, the audience witnesses these two distinct love stories unfold parallelly in a world where love is systematically scored and monitored. The unique premise of DEI as a universally acknowledged entity that is intrinsic to every individual’s emotional life doesn't just make for a creatively intriguing idea but also calls for self-reflection in real-life relationships. The film is a nuanced examination of love, exploring how our past relationships can impact our futures, and carries a message about honesty and emotional integrity at its core.

The performances by the cast bring this complex narrative to life with their nuanced and genuine performances. Aaron Yoo and Brittany Ishibashi deliver a captivating portrayal of lost love and potential redemption. Their characters’ struggle with their personal history is palpably heartbreaking and makes their narrative all the more engaging. At the same time, Brandon Soo Hoo and Victoria Park steal the scene with their youthful energy, portraying young high school lovers. Their chemistry is electrifying and brings a counterpoint to the melancholic love story of their older counterparts.

The soundtrack composed by Magnetic North & Taiyo Na is also worth mentioning, adding depth and an emotional undercurrent to the film. Cinematography plays a pivotal role in setting up the futuristic world of DEI. The direction of Wesley Chan and Philip Wang captures the essence of futuristic romantic distress evocatively and compellingly, adding to the overall storytelling.

In essence, Everything Before Us is a refreshing take on love, looking at it through a futuristic, dystopian lens that manages to entertain, touch, and provoke thought. This dual-narrative film treats each story arc with respect and sensitivity, resulting in a beautiful exploration of love and its complexities. It's an engaging cinematic experience, primarily due to its unique premise and emotionally resonant performances that make it a film worth watching.