The Life Before Her Eyes

The Life Before Her Eyes is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Philo and Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Uma Thurman leads a cast that never overplays its hand. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

There is a reason The Life Before Her Eyes keeps coming up in conversation. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — The Life Before Her Eyes earns every emotional beat it goes for. As the 15th anniversary of a fatal high school shooting approaches, former pupil Diana McFee is haunted by memories of the tragedy. After losing her best friend Maureen in the attack, Diana has been profoundly affected by the incident - her seemingly perfect life shaped by the events of that day. The performances from Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. It was released in 2007. What elevates The Life Before Her Eyes is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, The Life Before Her Eyes delivers. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Uma Thurman carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.

The Life Before Her Eyes was released in 2007, directed by Vadim Perelman. The full 90-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.