Biopic on Samuel Beckett's Restless Soul Hits Italian Cinemas

The biographical film 'Prima danza, poi pensa. Alla ricerca di Beckett' (First Dance, Then Think. In Search of Beckett) about Samuel Beckett arrives in Italian cinemas from February 1, 2024, distributed by BIM Distribuzione. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker James Marsh (Man on Wire, The Theory of Everything), the movie explores lesser-known moments of Beckett's life, using absurdist elements reminiscent of his work. The narrative opens with Beckett receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature, but he flees the ceremony into an imaginative world where he confronts his life and mistakes alongside an antagonistic alter ego. The film focuses on key relationships, particularly the women in his life, and portrays the intellectual's sharp character rather than glorifying him. Gabriel Byrne stars as Beckett, delivering a performance that often requires playing two versions of the character simultaneously. Screenwriter Neil Forsyth crafted the provocative structure. The title quotes Beckett's maxim 'Dance first, think later.'