Before and After

Before and After

Year: 1996

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: English

Director: Barbet Schroeder

MysteryCrimeDramaThrillers and murder mysteriesGripping intense violent crime

A murder. A suspect. A shadow of a doubt. Two parents deal with the effects when their son is accused of murdering his girlfriend.

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Timeline & Setting – Before and After (1996)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Before and After (1996). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1990s

The events unfold in a contemporary 1990s setting, with modern media, legal proceedings, and everyday suburban life. The timeline follows a five-week arc from the murder accusation to the final courtroom outcomes and family relocation.

Location

Western Massachusetts, Boston, Miami

The story centers on a small town in Western Massachusetts, characterized by close-knit communities and winter landscapes. It spans scenes set in Boston as the family navigates travel and legal processes, and ends with the family relocating to Miami, signaling a fresh start away from scrutiny.

🏞️ Rural town 🌆 Boston area 🏝️ Miami relocation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

Main Characters – Before and After (1996)

Meet the key characters of Before and After (1996), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Carolyn Ryan (Meryl Streep)

A devoted mother who fights to uncover the truth about Martha’s death while protecting her son. She confronts fear and social ostracism, ultimately taking a stand in the courtroom that challenges her own husband and the town’s assumptions. Her moral resolve drives the family toward honesty, even at personal cost.

💖 Mother 🕊️ Truth 🤝 Loyalty 🏡 Protective

Ben Ryan (Liam Neeson)

A sculptor and father who initially withholds information to shield Jacob, clashing with his wife’s insistence on transparency. His protective instincts collide with legal risk, setting off a struggle between family loyalty and moral responsibility. He faces consequences for his attempts to influence the narrative.

👨‍👦 Father ⚖️ Justice 🧭 Conflict 🏛️ Pressure

Jacob Ryan (Edward Furlong)

The son at the center of the blow to the town’s trust, who is accused yet reveals a complicated, coerced truth. He explains his years-long journey via postcards and trains, and his eventual confession after a tense family conflict. His actions expose the fragility of innocence and the weight of guilt.

🧒 Son 🗺️ Journey 🔎 Confession 🧩 Mystery

Fran Conklin (Daniel von Bargen)

The police sheriff who pushes for answers and scrutinizes the Ryan family, embodying the relentless pursuit of truth in a murder case. He presses for access to Jacob and probes with persistent interrogations, intensifying the family’s tension. His role heightens the sense of legal pressure surrounding the case.

👮 Law 🚨 Authority 🕵️ Pressure 🧭 Investigation

Judge Grady (Wesley Addy)

A stern, procedural judge presiding over the arraignment and grand jury processes. He navigates conflicting testimonies and rules on evidentiary matters, shaping the legal outcome for Jacob and the Ryans. His decisions underscore the formal mechanism that mediates truth and guilt.

⚖️ Law 🏛️ Court 🧭 Judgment 🧩 Procedure

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

Major Themes – Before and After (1996)

Explore the central themes of Before and After (1996), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Family Secrets

A core tension comes from concealing the truth to protect loved ones. The parents’ attempt to shield Jacob fractures trust within the family and invites community hostility. The film shows how secrets can shape identity, loyalties, and the path to disclosure.

⚖️ Truth vs. Denial

The courtroom pressure forces characters to confront what really happened. Testimonies clash with the family’s carefully constructed narratives, revealing how personal motives can distort fact. The legal process exposes the costs of lying and the consequences of truth-telling.

🏘️ Public Judgment

A small town’s gossip and suspicion ostracize the Ryans, illustrating how communal perceptions can override nuance and evidence. The story traces the social toll on a family facing accusation and exile from their community. Eventually, truth and accountability begin to temper the town’s harsh judgments.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

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Don't stop at just watching — explore Before and After in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Before and After is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Before and After Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Before and After, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Before and After Summary

Before and After Timeline

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Before and After Timeline

Before and After Spoiler-Free Summary

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Before and After Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Before and After

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