

Parisian bon vivant, World War II Resistance fighter, Nobel Prize-winning playwright, philandering husband and recluse…Samuel Beckett lived a life of many parts. Titled after Beckett’s famous ethos “Dance first, think later”, the film is a sweeping account of the life of this 20th-century icon.
Acting
Gabriel Byrne ages 50 years with just his eyes and posture.
Direction
James Marsh treats Beckett's life like a fragmented memory puzzle.
Production
Period Paris and wartime France recreated with gloomy authenticity.

Director
James Marsh
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Aidan Gillen spent months studying Joyce's actual manuscripts to perfect his handwriting for on-screen writing scenes.
The 'Dance first, think later' quote is actually a misattribution—Beckett never said it, but it became so associated with him that the film leans into the myth.