From the Co-writers & Director of ‘Salt & Wine’ Short film (2024)

And producers Dylan Eastland, Zac Smullen and Alexis Cleminson

Presents

The Days Before

Synopsis

Our short film, The Days Before, explores the untold emotional struggles of young Australians before the battle of Gallipoli in World War I. It’s the story of Francis, who enlists to fight at Gallipoli, and Leo, his best friend left behind, betrayed and heartbroken. Through moments of love, loss, and loyalty, the film shows the human side of history — not just the battles, but the friendships and families forever changed. By supporting this project, you’re helping us give voice to a generation whose courage and sacrifice shaped our nation.

Directors statement

The Days Before is a story set in memory, friendship, and the fragile moments that come just before everything changes. At its core, it’s not a war film—it’s a story about what happens in the shadow of war: the choices we make, the people we hold close, and the things left unsaid when time runs out. I've always been a history buff, one of the main things being that it shapes a country's identity and legacy. For Australia, I think one of the many events that stands out in our history is Gallipoli. This battle and this time in history represent the birth of a national identity, forged in the shared experience of tragedy, bravery, and sacrifice. Though the campaign itself was a military failure, the way Australians remember it has transformed it into a powerful national myth, the ANZAC Legend, which we continue to pay tribute and respect to this day. The fact is that this moment in history is also so haunting, that 8,700 Australians lost their lives, and some 18,000 were wounded. The youngest Australian was 14 years old.

The other part of this story was inspired by my own experiences at an all-boys private school. Nothing like this ever really happened, but elements of it occurred, gambling, exploring closed areas of the school etc. We were also told about the boys who left the school to serve in WW1, 250 of them around my age and younger, 55 of them were to never return. Myself, I am drawn to stories that explore friendship and masculinity in transition. The Days Before lets us see young men at the intersection of vulnerability and bravado. Francis hides his fear behind charm and noise; Leo hides his pain behind silence and duty to his family. Their fallout is tragic not just because of what’s said, but because of what isn’t. This story asks: what does bravery really look like? Is it on the battlefield, or in staying behind to care for the dying? Is it marching forward, or living with the weight of someone else’s sacrifice?

Starring

Dylan Eastland

Jake Maravilla

Katie Webse