Liverpool made short film Before You Go delivers a powerful message on men’s mental health

Matt Kennard’s Before You Go is a heartfelt, moving piece of art that tells a realistic story of suicide, and Liverpool actor Sonny Walker shines in the lead role.

Kennard, previously of Doctors, wrote and directed the film, and you can really feel the blood, sweat and tears poured into it. In a Q and A after a special screening of the film at Hope Street Hotel on Tuesday,

Matt said:

“I write a lot about men and mental health, I can’t quite remember what the inspiration or the specific moment was to write this script, but it was inspired by a hundred different things and different moments and different experiences and relationships and stories.”

The film, in just ten minutes, manages to maintain perfect tension, and it’s mostly down to Sonny Walker. Walker, fresh off his roles in The Gathering and Legends, delivers a performance that showcases Callum’s vulnerability while leaning into the taboo of mental health conversations. His performance bleeds quality, and when you see the film, you wonder how the producers could have even considered anybody else.

Sonny said:

“When I read the script, I was genuinely moved by it. I genuinely had tears in my eyes by the time I got to the end of it. For me, if a script can do that, it was a no-brainer to be part of it. To talk about something so important, I felt it was an opportunity for me to do it justice. 

“The way I looked at it was I can only draw as many personal experiences as I can, in whichever way I can. For me, I use personal experience, you know, when I might have seen family in the hospital, or you know, certain things I’ve gone through to be able to get to that place in order to convey the right emotion. I’ve been honest with it and brought my own personal experience to it.”

Before You Go is currently navigating the short film circuit in partnership with Sean’s Place, a charity set up by Debbie Rogers in 2019 after losing her brother to suicide.

Debbie said:

“When Sean died, I put everything I knew would have helped him into Sean’s Place.

“He’d go to the doctor, and he’d be prescribed more medication, but actually everything that was missing in his life was purpose, connections and reasons to feel good about himself. For men, those services didn’t exist at that time. We now support over 2,500 men each year with free, immediate access to support. 

“When we got the email (to be involved in Before You Go) and I watched the film, not only could I see myself in the film with some of the things Sonny is saying with his character, but it wasn’t just about my experience, it was about our members. Today, we had 60 people attend a viewing in Sean’s Place, and everyone was just so moved and touched by it. They were deeply affected, but in a really positive way. What you guys (the filmmakers) have done with this is reflect all of their voices so naturally.

Before You Go premiered at Raindance Film Festival three weeks ago to a positive response. Matt intends to continue collaborating with mental health charities to spread the film’s message to as many people as possible, before it moves online as a tool for talking.

If you, or anyone you know, has been affected by the themes in Before You Go, please visit the following links or call Samaritans on 116 123.

Find out more here.

Find more Liverpool events on our calendar.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.