''Before You Know It'' is a 2013 documentary directed by

PJ Raval PJ Raval is a queer first-generation Filipino-American filmmaker known for his documentary films about underrepresented subcultures and identities within the LGBTQ+ community. Raval is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Robert Giard Fellow, a member of t ...

following the lives of three gay seniors as they navigate the adventures, challenges and surprises of life and love in their golden years. Formerly known lovingly as ''Untitled Gay Retiree Documentary''.

Synopsis

The subjects of ''Before You Know It'' are no ordinary senior citizens. They are go-go booted bar-hoppers, love struck activists, troublemaking baton twirlers, late night Internet cruisers, seasoned renegades, and bold adventurers. They are also among the estimated 2.4 million LGBT Americans over the age of 55 in the U.S. many of whom face heightened levels of discrimination, neglect and exclusion. But ''Before You Know It'' is not a film about cold statistics, it's a film about generational trailblazers who have surmounted prejudice and defied expectation to form communities of strength, renewal and camaraderie. ''Before You Know It'' focuses on the lives of three gay seniors, but reminds us that while LGBT elders face a specific set of issues, aging and its challenges are universal. An affirmation of life and human resilience told with a refreshing humor and candor, ''Before You Know It'' confirms that you are never too old to reshape society.

Festivals

The film premiered at South by Southwest 2013 and screened at other film festivals such as

Independent Film Festival of Boston The Independent Film Festival Boston is a not for profit film festival in Boston, Massachusetts. History The Independent Film Festival Boston (also known as IFFBoston or IFFB) was created in 2003 by the non-profit organization the Independent ...

, the

San Francisco International Film Festival The San Francisco International Film Festival (abbreviated as SFIFF), organized by the San Francisco Film Society, is held each spring for two weeks, presenting around 200 films from over 50 countries. The festival highlights current trends in i ...

Maryland Film Festival The Maryland Film Festival is an annual five-day international film festival taking place each May in Baltimore, Maryland. The festival was launched in 1999, and presents international film and video work of all lengths and genres. The festival ...

, Toronto LGBT Film Festival,

Edinburgh International Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a film festival that runs for two weeks in June each year. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all ti ...

, Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival,

Asian Film Festival of Dallas The Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD) is a film festival held annually in July or August in Dallas, Texas. The festival programming consists of international films from Asia as well as Asian-American features and shorts. The festival is held p ...

, QFest Philadelphia, and QFest Galveston. The film had its national

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...

premiere on June 30, 2015.

References

External links

Official website
* *{{Rotten-tomatoes, before_you_know_it_2013, Before You Know It 2013 films American documentary films 2013 documentary films Documentary films about gay men LGBT and ageing American LGBT-related films Documentary films about old age 2013 LGBT-related films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films