Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Life Before Her Eyes

  • 20072007
  • RR
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Uma Thurman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
for The Life Before Her Eyes, directed by Vadim Perelman.
Play trailer2:23
2 Videos
48 Photos
DramaFantasyMystery
A woman's survivor's guilt from a Columbine-like event twenty years ago causes her present-day idyllic life to fall apart.A woman's survivor's guilt from a Columbine-like event twenty years ago causes her present-day idyllic life to fall apart.A woman's survivor's guilt from a Columbine-like event twenty years ago causes her present-day idyllic life to fall apart.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
15K
YOUR RATING
    • Vadim Perelman
    • Laura Kasischke(novel)
    • Emil Stern(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Uma Thurman
    • Evan Rachel Wood
    • Eva Amurri
    • Vadim Perelman
    • Laura Kasischke(novel)
    • Emil Stern(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Uma Thurman
    • Evan Rachel Wood
    • Eva Amurri
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 87User reviews
    • 77Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    The Life Before Her Eyes: Theatrical trailer
    Trailer 2:23
    Watch The Life Before Her Eyes: Theatrical trailer
    Life Before Her Eyes
    Trailer 1:33
    Watch Life Before Her Eyes

    Photos48

    Uma Thurman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Eva Amurri and Evan Rachel Wood in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Uma Thurman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Eva Amurri and Evan Rachel Wood in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Evan Rachel Wood in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Uma Thurman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Evan Rachel Wood in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Uma Thurman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Vadim Perelman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Uma Thurman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Kelsey Grammer and Camille Grammer at an event for The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Emmy Rossum and Eva Amurri at an event for The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Uma Thurman
    Uma Thurman
    • Diana (Adult)
    Evan Rachel Wood
    Evan Rachel Wood
    • Diana (Teen)
    Eva Amurri
    Eva Amurri
    • Maureen
    Gabrielle Brennan
    Gabrielle Brennan
    • Emma
    Brett Cullen
    Brett Cullen
    • Paul
    Oscar Isaac
    Oscar Isaac
    • Marcus
    Jack Gilpin
    Jack Gilpin
    • Mr. McCleod
    Maggie Lacey
    Maggie Lacey
    • Amanda (Adult)
    John Magaro
    John Magaro
    • Michael Patrick
    Lynn Cohen
    Lynn Cohen
    • Sister Beatrice
    Nathalie Paulding
    Nathalie Paulding
    • Amanda (Teen)
    • (as Nathalie Nicole Paulding)
    Molly Price
    Molly Price
    • Diana's Mother
    Oliver Solomon
    Oliver Solomon
    • Detective
    Anna Moore
    Anna Moore
    • Blonde Student
    • (as Anna Renee Moore)
    Isabel Keating
    Isabel Keating
    • Maureen's Mother
    Adam Chanler-Berat
    Adam Chanler-Berat
    • Ryan
    Tanner Cohen
    Tanner Cohen
    • Nate Witt
    • (as Tanner Max Cohen)
    Aldous Davidson
    Aldous Davidson
    • Diana's Student
      • Vadim Perelman
      • Laura Kasischke(novel)
      • Emil Stern(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Pretty Persuasion
    6.5
    Pretty Persuasion
    The Truth About Emanuel
    6.0
    The Truth About Emanuel
    Allure
    5.1
    Allure
    Propavshaya
    5.0
    Propavshaya
    House of Sand and Fog
    7.5
    House of Sand and Fog
    Buy Me
    5.3
    Buy Me
    My Zinc Bed
    5.4
    My Zinc Bed
    Running with Scissors
    6.1
    Running with Scissors
    Deception
    6.0
    Deception
    W.E.
    6.2
    W.E.
    In Secret
    6.1
    In Secret
    Izmeny
    7.3
    Izmeny

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The names of the 26 victims seen on the memorial and the banner (with the exception of prominent characters such as Maureen and Mr. MacLeod) are the names of members of the production crew who worked on the film.
    • Goofs
      All entries contain spoilers
    • Quotes

      Mr. McClood: And if there's anything I want you guys to take with you from this class, as you're abusing your bodies over break, is three things: the heart is the body's strongest muscle, that the brain has more cells in it than our galaxy has stars, and that the body is 72% water. So wherever you go over vacation, don't get too dehydrated.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: 88 Minutes/The Life Before Her Eyes/Forgetting Sarah Marshall/The Forbidden Kingdom/Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?/The Visitor (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      She's Not There
      Composed by Rod Argent

      Performed by The Zombies

      Publisher: Marquis Music Co. Ltd. for the World

      Zombies recording licensed from Marquis Enterprises Ltd.

    User reviews87

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A Nutshell Review: The Life Before Her Eyes
    One of the main reasons for picking this up is the star pairing of Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood playing the same character Diana in a tale that explores how lives get changed and affected in a post Columbine styled school shooting. Directed by Vadim Perelman who also helmed The House of Sand and Fog, The Life Before Her Eyes is adapted from the novel by Laura Kasischke, and the first scene sets up the hook beautifully - what if you're caught in a dead end with your best friend, and a gunman?

    The narrative unfolds in non-linear fashion, which splits the story into two separate threads, one with the younger teenage Diana (Rachel Evan Wood) and her BFF Maureen (Eva Amurri) discussing the usual problems, issues and dreams a teenager would have, and their aspirations in life, and the other putting its focus on the adult Diana (Uma Thurman) now married to a professor and having to raise her child Emma (Gabrielle Brennan) who's quite a handful to handle, providing some mean reminiscence into her own past that she hopes she's able to steer her kid out from that doomed past.

    In character pieces like this, both lead actresses shine in their respective spheres, with Evan Rachel Wood playing yet again an impetuous youth living life her own way, never hesitating to dabble in sex and drugs, and basically the making all the mistakes that one can make as a teen. The chemistry shared with Eva Amurri was excellently convincing so much so that with the pivotal scene in the bathroom, you're put on the edge of your seat as to the choices that both will make. Which you can partake in if you put yourself in similar shoes, with a gun pointed at you and a chance to live, or die, per your wishes.

    Uma Thurman tackles her mom role with aplomb, juggling raising a kid with trying to avoid her past which is slowly coming back through flashbacks no thanks to the 15th anniversary of the fateful day in school. It may seem that she's living that perfect life, but the cracks soon show up and little things become opportunities for reminiscence. I suppose as a parent you will try that utmost best to avoid your kid repeating the same mistakes you have made, and will be on the lookout for warning signs. Thurman brings to the table that level of maturity, as well as a sense of paranoia as she tries hard to forget her past.

    Vadim Perelman created a film that's basically very dreamlike in quality as it deals with themes such as conscience and self-preservation, and crafted the key bathroom scene with ingenuity that keeps you constantly guessing how it will all play out, and pulling his punches at the right time to keep up that level of suspense right up to the end. Production values are purposefully split down the middle to differentiate the landscapes between the two time periods to reflect the lifestyle and mood of Diana and of course to throw clues in addition to what's being done by the narrative, with a haunting soundtrack throughout courtesy of James Horner.

    Some may not like the how the finale played out but I thought it was refreshingly different from the usual narrative twist attempts. Some may deem it not plausible, but I tend to consider it not as being performed during a single moment, but more of being worked on over a period of time. After all, an idea isn't just conceived and worked on overnight - we tend to think about it at some lengths not necessarily always during the same sitting. Even if you have an inkling of how it will play out, it's the delivery of key scenes and the wonderful dramatic performances that make this way above average. Recommended!
    helpful•23
    8
    • DICK STEEL
    • Jan 2, 2011

    FAQ1

    • what are the songs in the trailer?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 5, 2008 (Poland)
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Magnolia Pictures (United States)
      • Metropolitan Films (France)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Sheridan School - 191 Fountain Street, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
    • Production company
      • 2929 Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 30 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Uma Thurman in The Life Before Her Eyes (2007)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Life Before Her Eyes (2007) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.