Before You Go

The story unfolds on the Isle of Man, centering on the sisters’ family home where they gather for Violet’s funeral. The setting shifts between the house, the garage where a hidden tin lies, and the local pub that becomes a social hub for the family’s interactions. It’s a close-knit coastal community where memories and routine influence how the characters navigate grief and obligation.

🕊️ Grief

The film centers on processing a mother’s death and the fragile ways grief reshapes the sisters’ relationships. Mary’s outward indifference masks deeper pain as memories surface, especially around her teenage pregnancy and her mother’s harsh reactions. The funeral becomes a turning point where unresolved wounds and memories collide, forcing confrontations and potential reconciliation.

🗝️ Secrets

Hidden pasts and unspoken truths drive the tension among sisters. Mary’s secret about her past, the birth of her son Patrick, and the missing keepsake box all surface as the family reorganizes Violet’s belongings. The revelation at the end—how memory can distort the past—underscores how secrets shape present relationships.

👭 Family Dynamics

Three sisters with different lives clash and co-exist under one roof. Teresa’s protective control, Catherine’s flirtatious self-destruction, and Mary’s medical career interweave with Frank’s stubbornness and Mike’s restraint, uncovering how loyalty, resentment, and humor coexist in family life.

⏳ Mortality

The approaching funeral and the uncovering of a painful memory about Violet’s past highlight the finite nature of life and the effort to understand those who are gone. The title’s implication—what you say and do before someone goes—frames the characters’ attempts to come to terms with loss and forgiveness.