Before Sunset (2004)

Dir: Richard Linklater
Writers: Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater
Starring: Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

Perhaps one of the best sequels ever made--isn't it rare to get a sequel to a genuine, romantic film? Most of them seem to fade away into their happy endings. Before Sunrise's ambiguous ending left so much room for a follow-up, and follow up these creators did. This time actors Hawke and Delpy helped write the script (and they were Oscar-nominated for it!) and their characters Jesse and Céline meet again--somewhat by chance--in Paris.

This film happens in 'real time' - they have a 90 minute conversation as they walk through Paris, catching up. We learn that Jesse was indeed waiting for Céline in Vienna nine years ago. Céline never showed up, but there's more to it than that. Hearing the two characters catch up was fascinating as we, too, were catching up with them. They've matured, but still harbor this remembrance for that one night. It's almost as if they feel silly for holding onto this one memory from their youths, but it was just as genuine for the other.

As I am about to embark on my own trip to Paris tonight, I watched this film and still love it so much. There's much here about relationships and missed opportunities and taking chances. I've worked my own Before Sunset Tour into our itinerary in Paris--I want to meet like them at the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore and walk by the Seine and sit on a bench on the Promenade Plantee. And we shall.

The Best: The script is beautiful; it still feels like two regular people talking, but in a way that you know this is not how they talk to other people. Jesse and Céline each have their own brilliant moments (Jesse's talking about how he might break apart if someone were to touch him, Céline discussing the sad cynicism that came with getting older). I become wistful just thinking of these two and this movie and their conversation. The two ending lines are perhaps my favorite two ending lines of ANY movie. Bravo to the three writers, bravo!



Fact: It only took 15 days to film this movie.

Rating: ********** (10 out of 10)