The tragic story of a famous Samoan poet ends in heartbreak in the documentary Before the Moon Falls. Director Kimberlee Bassford’s poignant portrait of a tortured genius is a stunning case study of the cinematic art form. Kimberlee not only draws attention to this acclaimed writer but also showcases the reality of documentary filmmaking when your subject is mentally unstable. Before the Moon Falls is a bittersweet but ultimately fascinating story of how one woman went from a promising artist to a prisoner.

To See the Beauty of Life, One Must Understand Suffering

The film centers around Sia Figiel, a groundbreaking author and poet. Sia is universally celebrated for giving a voice to the struggles of Samoan girls and women. Her status in the community was Kimberlee’s initial inspiration to shed light on Sia’s story. However, no one could have predicted what was to come. For eight years, Kimberlee follows Sia on her unconventional life journey from literary stardom to a diagnosis of depression and bipolar disorder. Sia’s complex mental illness, which lay dormant for years, begins to rev up with a vengeance. She abandons her children, flees town, and ends up in the hospital after an overdose. Her struggles are intense, but her determination to overcome them is stronger.

For a while, it seems like the worst is behind them. Sia sits down with Kimberlee at what is supposed to be their last interview. She radiates hope and positivity; all indications point to this tumultuous story having a “Happily Ever After” Hollywood ending. But that’s not what ends up happening.

As the documentary is nearing completion, Kimberlee receives a shocking message that Sia has been arrested over the death of a dear friend, Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard. Gabbard makes an appearance earlier in the film, which allows the audience to become familiar with her. This revelation throws Kimberlee and her film into disarray. What was intended to be a story arc of redemption and recovery instead becomes a tragedy. Using this news, Kimberlee breaks the fourth wall by appearing in the last ten minutes of the film. She records phone calls with Sia from prison, as well as video interviews with doctors who break down Sia’s bipolar condition. Kimberlee, like her audience, is now trying to make sense of what happened.

A Near Decade-Long Production Comes to a Devastating End

After following Sia for nearly a decade, it would be easy for Kimberlee to show an empathetic bias toward her story. After all, this film was intended to end on a positive note. But Kimberlee never lets her personal feelings get in the way of the truth. As a journalist and documentary filmmaker for 20 years, she lays bare the ugly reality of mental illness. Intimate footage and conversations built on years of mutual trust make the whole viewing experience extremely personal. Sia has her flaws, but we never stop rooting for her recovery.

Director’s Statement

“Mental illness cuts across cultural, political, educational, and socioeconomic lines. Around the world, communities are grappling with the impacts of mental illness in their streets, workplaces, schools, hospitals, and prisons. Moreover, mental illness doesn’t just impact individuals but their families and entire communities. Yet there is little understanding of the scope and diverse experiences of mental illness and little consensus of how to treat people who suffer from it. Sia’s story is just one woman’s story. It cannot represent everything about mental illness nor should it. But it can humanize mental illness and spark discussions of how we can better address it in our families and communities. While Sia’s story has a tragic ending, my hope is that by seeing her story, others whose lives are touched by mental illness will have better outcomes.” – Kimberlee Bassford, director

Takeaway

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Festival International du Film Documentaire Oceanien in Tahiti, Before the Moon Falls is essential viewing. A riveting, powerful watch from start to finish.