Before I Change My Mind – Coming Of Age In A Binary World
In the late 1980s, a non-binary person has just moved to Canada and while non-binary, they aren’t ace so crushes arise and sometimes makes things complicated.
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Plot Summary
Robin, with their father Daniel, have just moved from Spokane, Washington to Alberta, Canada. It isn’t made 100% clear where Robin’s mother is, beyond flashbacks pushing the idea their divorce from Daniel was potentially due to their alcoholism. But, with a new town comes Robin having to face the issue of the way everything is gendered.
But, to make matters worse, it’s 1987 so the terminology and conversations many are privileged with today didn’t circulate freely online. So, “What are you” and being called “It” are in play. But, despite rumors, bullying, and teasing, Robin befriends their bully, and crush Carter, and even becomes the crush of a girl named Isabella.
However, who will they choose, how will their journey towards now discovering their sexuality go, after seemingly being able to hold firm that they are non-binary? You’d have to watch “Before I Change My Mind” to find out.
Character Guide
| Character’s Name | Actor’s Name |
| Robin | Vaughan Murrae |
| Daniel | Matthew Rankin |
| Carter | Dominic Lippa |
| Isabella | Lacey Oake |
Character Description(s)
Robin
Robin is a teenage person who just moved to a new country and new school and is being raised by a single father. It isn’t 100% clear what happened with their mother, but it seems alcoholism is a factor.
Daniel
Daniel is Robin’s father. He works at a local college, is single, and seems to have no issue with their son being non-binary.
Carter
Carter is raised by his barely older sister. His mom is infrequently in the house, and his dad isn’t around, so Carter is a wild child without someone to hold him accountable.
Isabella
Isabella, Izzy, is a singer and general performer who likes makeup, shoplifting, and movies and also has a crush on Robin.
Review
Good If You Like
- Stories about tweens and teens having crushes and dealing with life
Similar To This
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- Nimona: LGBTQIA+ animated movie featuring a gay lead, and a strong non-binary supporting character
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Highlights
The Pursuit Of Exploring Gender
One of the most interesting things about “Before I Change My Mind” is how it seeks to explore gender. It’s not with Robin, whose birth assignment isn’t revealed, but rather through Carter and Isabella, among others. But focusing on those two, what’s interesting to see are their similarities and differences.
Carter, for example, fits the bill of a stereotypical boy in that he is loud, curious, destructive, and can come off as emotionally underdeveloped. Yet, it’s clear he yearns for closeness and intimacy, and even if he bullies Robin at first, he has no issue taking advantage of the sense of belonging Robin gives.
Then, with Isabella, she is very feminine. She has long hair, likes makeup, and cares about Robin’s feelings when it is clear Carter’s attention is leaving them for her, and they are expressive about how they feel without being confrontational.
Yet, while there are differences, you see similarities as well. Isabella is more than willing to steal from the mall, just as Carter is willing to exploit the fact Robin has money. Isabella may not be a fighter, but she will stand up for what she believes in, as much as Carter will push and tussle with those who disagree with him or get in the way of his good time.
In the middle of all this is Robin, who, through their relationship with both, explores dominance, makeup, intimacy, and all in such a way that almost pushes a need to redefine what it means to come of age since this isn’t purely about love, is void of sex, and pushes the often secondary pursuit of understanding who you are as you break away from your parents’ influence.
Robin’s Relationships
When it comes to romance, however, the film doesn’t falter. Robin’s pursuit of Carter and Isabella’s pursuit of Robin makes for the rare example of a love triangle that may not get on your nerves.
Robin’s admiration and crush are just as much about who that person is as they are about their exploration of what it would mean to be more masculine or feminine. There are levels to their feelings.
In fact, as much as most young romance is based on the idea of a person vs who they are, “Before I Change My Mind” might be one of the few that embraces that. Robin doesn’t seem to forget who Carter is but wants to embrace that as both a partner and as someone trying to form themselves. Then, with Isabella, they enjoy that softness, for it perhaps replaces their lack of a maternal figure, yet at the same time, being that Isabella shows the dichotomy for girls isn’t as strict as boys, it presents ideas that may conflict with what Robin has thought.
I’ll admit that all of this could be me overthinking things, but that’s what the best kind of writing and performances do. They make you take a microscope to things and wonder if there is something more than meets the eye.
On The Fence
The Lack Of Answers (Beyond Robin’s Gender)
There are a handful of questions that could plague you while watching this. The questions include what happened to Robin’s mom, and what is their relationship with them? How are Carter and his sister surviving, considering their mom seems to go off with whatever man has their attention? Considering it is the 80s, how does Carter handle a binary world, for surely not everyone or every place they can just not pick a side?
None of these issues are major because the film is good without answering a single one. However, they can pop up after the film ends, and you can reflect on the experience.
Background Information
| Director(s) | Trevor Anderson |
| Writer(s) | Trevor Anderson, Fish Griwkowsky |
| Based On Work By | N/A |
| Date Released | March 5, 2024 |
| Where To Watch | Video On Demand |
| Genre(s) | Comedy |
| Film Length | 1 Hour 28 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Not Rated |
| Content Information | Dialog: Discriminatory Language, Cursing
Violence: Notable Fight Scenes Sexual Content: N/A Miscellaneous: Drinking |
