Before Sunset (DVD) (WS)

First, right off the bat, let me say that you MUST see Before Sunrise prior to watching this film. While I suppose you might still enjoy it without the prior viewing (you are offered a few scattered flashbacks of the previous film), I believe your appreciation of its subtleties will be HUGELY diminished without it. And it's a rare treat to be able to revisit characters you got to know in one film ten years later. I actually watched BEFORE SUNRISE again just one day prior to viewing BEFORE SUNSET. In my opinion, that's the way to go...because there are little things in the first film that come up in film #2...it helps enjoy the movie to remember those little moments yourself. BEFORE SUNRISE was the story of two young college-aged kids who meet on a train to Vienna, and he (Ethan Hawke) convinces here (Julie Delpy) to hang out with him for the night, before he has to fly back to the states. From there, they wander the scenic streets of Vienna, mostly talking, and falling in love. We see how the intellectual connection is made almost simultaneously with the physical attraction...and it's almost palpable how convincing the film is. At the end, the couple agrees to meet again in one year at the exact spot. Will they come together again? We don't know. BEFORE SUNSET answers that question and many others. I will NOT be a spoiler here, but let's just say that in the 9 years that passed since the last film, Hawke and Delpy have not been together the whole time. How and why? I won't say. This time, they meet in Paris. Both actors are clearly older. Hawke is gaunt to the point of emaciation. Delpy has aged around the eyes in particular. What's cool is that as the two reunite, we can see the age lifting from them. Yes, they look older, but as they spend the time together, they begin to feel like their younger selves again. Ethan Hawke is not a favorite actor of mine. In most films, I find him boring or affected. He's also a very pretentious writer...and I don't like that he dumped Uma Thurman. Anyway, in these little gems, he is terrific. The conversational, improvised tone fits him very well, and he's convincing. Delpy, whom I haven't seen in much else, is very good. Her character has many annoying little traits, but she's also so open about the joy she takes in things. And both characters have bristling, active intellects. It's fun to watch smart people making a connection. They're both quick witted and funny, especially Delpy. The first film was mostly upbeat...even though we knew they had to part ways, there was so much fun in watching them connect so convincingly. The movie captured the ebullience of young love. BEFORE SUNSET is infused with melancholy. The characters are older, and have been battered a bit by life...especially their own decisions. Neither has been a failure, yet neither is happy either. And they are tormented (especially Hawke) by what "could have been." There's some resentment there, and it pops up from time to time, even as they rebuild their bond. They aren't as carefree and open as they once were. All of that reads as very convincing and believable. The final ten minutes or so of the film are about as quiet and tiny as any you'll see. We REALLY feel we're eavesdropping. The tension is thick. Time is running out (Hawke has a plane to catch) and we can literally feel the need to cling to every last second. The ending is the ultimate in bittersweet. I admire the films because they dialogue, while probably more intelligent and witty then any of us could muster up, FEELS real. And there's a lot of it, and it's fun to listen to. The actors also listen to each other very avidly. It all feels authentic, and makes you realize how many movies really don't. The films aren't stylish or noisy. The filmmaking is NOT flashy. Director Richard Linklater knows what the strengths are and doesn't tamper with them. Is the movie perfect? No. Sometimes we realize that these two people might not be people we would actually like if we met them. They are a bit full of themselves. But on the other hand, it's a strength that they aren't afraid to have some significant warts too. And the opening scene, where Hawke is in a bookstore (before he's met Delpy) feels too contrived...it's only an excuse to show some scenes from the previous film. But these quibbles are REALLY minor. I recommend both movies to adults...particularly if you've had love in your life or been an adult for at least ten years. I think most kids or teens would be bored silly.

--Includes Spoilers-- I've had Before Sunrise and Before Sunset on my Netflix queue for the past four years and just couldn't get around to watching it. Something finally triggered last night, and I finally decided to start up Before Sunrise. And, once I finished Before Sunrise, I wanted to know more about the characters fate? Did they return on December 16th? What is their relationship now? Have they found love? Before Sunset answers those questions, and poses a few more (one significant question) is asked about Jesse and Seline's relationship. The dialogue in Before Sunset is even better than Before Sunrise. The characters are older, wiser, and have come to realize that none of their relationships since their one night meeting have come close. They vent frustration and anger and sorrow. It's generally attributed that much of Hawke's own personal divorce from ex-wife contributed to this dialogue about his loveless, sexless marriage. The ending is ambiguous, but completely in character and consistent with the first film and the observation that Jesse points out about the three journalists: romanticist, the pessimist, and the hopeful realist. It's up to the viewer, whether he or she is a romanticist, pessimist, or hopeful realist to decide at the end of Before Sunrise whether the characters decide to make something more of this second chance at a connection. In this humble reviewer's opinion, Jesse and Seline do re-connect their relationship. In the van ride to Seline's apartment, Jesse vents frustration about his loveless marriage and Seline reaches out with her right hand to touch his head. Jesse continues to delay going to the airport so that he can spend a few more minutes with Seline. In Seline's apartment, he finally convinces her to play him a song-- which is a Waltz about their one night encounter. He plays an upbeat Nina Simone track. All this seems to be initiated by Jesse, but that last line by Seline "You're going to miss your flight" is one that she's repeated several times before. And, Jesse's very last line "I know" along with his subtle, tugging of the wedding ring shows that time will not constrain their relationship. As in Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, it was Jesse's time limits that constricted their relationship development. Jesse makes known that time won't play the same role. That's why I'm more than just hopeful, I believe they re-connect-- I'd love to see a third film that confirms that possibility. Camera work is excellent. Completely consistent with Before Sunrise, it is shot in real-time with rolling shots of the cobblestone streets, gardens, and the Seine river in the background. Fewer eccentric characters than in the first film. (i.e. "milkshake" poet) Both Hawke and Delpy have unbelievable chemistry. Their performances are believable. Seline has such amazing charm and her dance at the end of the film just can't help but make you smile. Jesse has grown up, and his romantic views, which were so prevalent in Sunrise, are subdued in this film. Instead it is Seline's views, her pessimism, her doomed romances that largely initiate the conversation until Jesse responds that he has experienced the same. At 85 minutes, this movie runs briskly-- but is compacted with such emotion, sexual tension, and character development and exploration that it just feels so satisfying. Again, like the first film, it's refreshing to see a movie that doesn't need to resort to showing nudity or gratuitous sex or imagery to attract an audience. This is indeed an intellectual, romantic drama. Highly, highly recommended.

I avoided watching this sequel until now, mainly because I didn't want to spoil the magic of "Before Sunrise". Despite the open-ending of the first film, I always expected the couple to meet again for their promised Christmas in Vienna. So to me the first film had a decidedly happy ending. "Before Sunset" of course is based on the premise that they didn't. Still I wasn't disappointed. "Before Sunset" is a lovely film, as beautiful as the first and ends on a suitably ambiguous and equally optimistic note. Filmed in real time, and taking place 9 years after the first film, it shows the pair meeting again, this time in Paris, the City of Love. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is now a successful writer on a book tour promoting his latest bestseller, an autobiography based on their one night in Vienna. Celine (Julie Delpy) of course lives in Paris and comes to his book-signing. They have one lovely summer afternoon together before he has to fly back to America. Like the previous film they spend it walking, chatting, flirting, teasing and now reminiscing, as Celine takes him through the beautiful streets of her home city, including a picturesque boat trip down the Seine. Watching the film is like slipping into a pair of comfortable old shoes, or as others have said, like meeting and catching up with old friends again. The whole film is a single long chat as they reveal how their lives turned out, why they didn't meet before this, what might have been, and rekindle the romantic spark that came to life 9 years ago. The dialogue is witty and always engaging and you never want it to end. The chemistry between the pair is as palpable and electric as it was 9 years ago. All throughout you long for them to stay together. The script was written by Richard Linklater in collaboration with both actors which might explain the close affinity the actors have for their roles and the deep chemistry they exhibit. It's like they are not acting at all; as if we were given the privilege of eavesdropping on two close friends deep in an intimate conversation. Absolutely delightful. Can't wait to see them in another 9-10 years as they recount what has happened since. That would be a treat indeed. Both actors have aged visibly but they wear the years well and it's nice to see actors who don't try to disguise their age onscreen. It adds immeasurably to the realism of these characters. The film is presented in a modified form to perfectly fit the new 16:9 (1.78:1) widescreen TV. It is not in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 contrary to what is stated on the backcover. The picture looks fine and I couldn't detect any major composition problems. Colours are fairly strong and natural. Black levels are accurately set with good detail in the darker scenes. The DVD comes with the obligatory theatrical trailer. There is a also short but treasurable 10-minute "On the Set" featurette with the director and 2 stars talking about their collaboration in making the film and how they wove their own life expeiences into their characters' fictional lives. Good to know that another sequel is still possible 9 to 10 years down the line. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

The movie is about two people who meet again after nine years and talk to catch up with each other. But if you've seen Before Sunrise you know that it isn't that simple. And even if you didn't you still get a sense of history between these two individuals caught in some attachment to the past. They talk about their relationships and career choices. They express ideas that they hold to about love, the environment, and religious experience. It's like a deep conversation you would have with someone who was your best friend long ago. It's really an enchanting movie. And you find yourself caring about these people and what they think and do (something that is sadly lacking from a lot of other movies). In my honest opinion "Before Sunrise"(maybe because it carried the energetic youthful spirit of the characters) was better but this movie is still wonderful and definitely more mature. I must add that Julie Delpy was totally realistic and engaging in this. I found myself like Ethan Hawke's character, who just observes how incredible this woman is. Celine is one of the better written female characters of movie history(IMO). I'm hoping that Julie Delpy gets a Best Actress nomination because she gave a very beautiful performance (especially the last scene. I'll never think of Nina Simone the same way again).

Although artistic, indie films are not my usual fare, I LOVED this movie, as well as its predecessor, "Before Sunrise", which I first encountered on cable back in '95. It was a great movie about being young and in love. Two people have a magical night together, and plan to meet again in six months time. "Before Sunrise" ended on that note, and being something of a romantic, I always liked to think they both came back as they promised, and got together. This movie finally answers that question. A rarity among sequels, it manages to equal its predecessor. "Before Sunset" follows the same format as the first film. What makes it work is that the characters really do act like people who have aged a decade. They're no longer college age kids, but grown, working adults. In this film they talk more about their experiences than their hopes, ambitions, and desires. You can see how life has worn some of their idealism off. This is a great touch of realism. They're the same characters, but their not really the same people anymore. Well, nine years after their romantic night together, we see that through no fault of theirs, their planned rendezvous in Vienna never happened. They meet again in Paris, and as the movie progresses, it gradually becomes obvious that neither of them ever really got over the other. Jesse admits that when he got married, he settled for what he thought would be good enough. His marriage is not a happy one, and he has only remained in it because of his son, and even so, he worries about his son growing up in a joyless home. Celine has bounced from one unsatisfying relationship to another, growing more cynical about romance with each one. The only reason her current boyfriend is still her boyfriend is because his work requires him to travel a lot, so he's not around often enough to get under her skin like the rest of them did. Celine candidly admits that she feels like she's dying inside, and Jesse tells her his life's even worse. Just as in the first film, they have only a short time to spend together. Jesse has to catch a plane for New York. But this brief time is enough to reveal that their old magic is still there, and you can see them falling for each other all over again. As another reviewer remarked, those who say that this movie ended on an ambiguous note, as the first film did, are missing the subtext. I think it is no coincidence at all that when Linklater, Delpy, and Hawke chose to feature a song sung by Nina Simone (in a scene near the end, when Jesse plays it on Celine's stereo), the one they chose was "Just in Time". You can't hear the lyrics so easily in this film, but if you know this song (I do) you can see that it could be a Cri de Coeur from either character to the other: Just in time, you've found me just in time. Before you came, my time was running low. I was lost; the losing dice were tossed. My bridges all were crossed. Nowhere to go. Now you're here. Now I know where I'm going No more doubt or fear. I've found my way For love came just in time. You've found me just in time, And changed my lonely nights that lucky day. And when Celine, imitating Nina Simone, says to Jesse: "Baby, you are gonna miss that plane." He replies: "I know". The way he says it, however, is more like: "You're d*** right I am." They both let "the one" get away before. There's no way they're going to let it happen again. Since Jesse and Celine do get their happy ending - or rather, happy beginning - in this film, I really hope they don't make another sequel. It could only be dramatic if it shows them having a relationship that has some troubles (and who wants to see that?), or if they somehow fail to get together after all, and lose more of their precious, irreplaceable years. Besides that, I am impressed that they managed to maintain the quality of the first film in a sequel. I'm not at all sure they could do it again. Better to leave the characters on a high note.

It’s Linklater after all

Prior to writing this review I read the one star reviews which included complaints about a lack of action, liberal viewpoints of the characters, and the immorality of the characters. If those are the three most important qualities that you would look for in a movie then you would not like this movie. You might like Independence Day instead. This movie is just a camera filming two people strolling along and talking to each other, so there is not any "action." While you might not like the viewpoints of the characters, the movie is not trying to communicate a political message; it is a romantic movie. The dialogue is not meant to incite, rather, it is meant to capture how two people might talk to each other in real life. In real life, liberal people say liberal things just as conservatives say conservative things. As for the complaints about the morality of the characters, I assume the reviewer is using his or her imagination to fill in the blanks a little bit. Judging the morality of the characters seems like an odd way to judge the quality of a movie so I really cannot respond to that line of criticism. What makes this movie good is the acting, the story, the dialogue, and the scenery. The plot is original as far as I know. It is not like a romantic comedy type plot. I am not a romance genre fan, yet I really enjoyed this movie and its prequel. It is a very fitting sequel to Before Sunrise and it captures an intimate moment in two people's lives. I think the nature of the dialogue and the progression of its intimacy seems natural which makes it believable to me. It is about lost opportunity and heartache. It is about two people reconnecting. It is about the characters holding back from what they really want to say because of their uncertainty about how the other feels. The characters are imperfect, the situation is not ideal, and the ending is not conclusive. These are what makes the movie great. Stories must have conflict to make them interesting and I think most people have experienced conflict in life, particularly in relationships. Perhaps those who have experienced heartache or who question what might have happened if some part of their lives went differently might relate to the characters in this film more than those whose lives have gone as planned. If you liked Before Sunrise you should like this movie. I actually like this movie slightly better than Before Sunrise and I saw this movie before Before Sunrise and now I own both. If you are looking for politically neutral or conservative characters, who do not face moral dilemmas, who are involved in a lot of action then this is not the movie for you.

3.5 stars. If "Before Sunrise" is as much a valentine to Vienna as it is a story about a youthful romance that only lasts one night, then its sucessor is a valentine to Paris, and what a wonderful Parisian evening it is to reconnect with an old lover. Jesse and Celine, two young 20-somethings that met on a train 9 years ago and spent one magical night in Mozart's favorite city never kept that appointment to reunite on that train platform in six months. Jesse, now in his 30s and a successful novelist on the last leg of his first European book tour, has never quite gotten over that fact, nor over the beautiful French girl who captivated him over all those hours all those years ago. In a cinematic reunion tailormade for Paris, he spots Celine on the periphery of the crowd in Shakespeare & Co. bookstore and instantly is transported back nearly a decade. Not that he's ever forgotten Celine--she is the heroine, "fictionalized", he claims, of his novel. Time once again is a cruel mistress, as the two former lovers have just over an hour to get reacquainted before Jesse's flight departs for the States. Paris couldn't look better, but it doesn't take more than a few minutes to realize something uncomfortable: our two young lovers, no longer so young, aren't very likeable anymore. Age and their share of mutual disappointments have honed the less appealing aspects of their more youthful selves into sharp edges. Jesse has aged worse; Hawke's cheeks look positively gaunt under an unflattering beard, making his teeth look enormous, and his formerly luxurious head of hair is shorn into a trendy, but aging buzz cut. It is nearly impossible to detect remnants of the exuberant American boy Celine met 10 years before. Delpy is still beautiful, but she looks tired and is noticably thinner, giving her a brittle aura. This Celine has become the shrill and neurotic harpy that Jesse circa 1994 joked that she might. Increasing age has not diluted our two protagonists' self-absorption any, but rather has only increased it to near-toxic levels. It is a very awkward reunion, indeed, with both halves of our truncated couple nursing their private grievances against the other and dealing with adult lives that have largely failed to realize the promise of that night in Vienna. The stiff and careful way Jesse and Celine metaphorically circle one another as they edge tentatively toward bridging the gap of 9 years' worth of time and separate histories in an hour feels real--this project deserves kudos for staying far away from the temptation to make this reunion conform to Hollywood standards of a 'romantic ending'. Indeed, our two former lovers feel as ambivilent about each other as we do. Should they, can they, even attempt to reconnect when they still have the problem of continents and an ocean between them? And, of course, there is the small matter of Jesse's wife and son back home. After a coffee, a stroll, a ride on the Seine & a tense conversation in a town car, our boy and girl arrive at Celine's door. She invites him in, gives him tea, and a song and dances to Nina Simone on the CD player. Her last line is "Baby, you're gonna miss that plane." Do they stick together for good this time, or will it be "Before Sunrise, Part Deux"? It is left for the viewer to decide. Jesse and Celine's rocky romance just may be the last one of its kind put to screen; after all, in this electronic age, with the Internet, Facebook, ubiquitous cell phones, texting and GPS, would it be possible to remain undiscovered by an earnest lover even if you didn't want to be found? Had Jesse and Celine met just a few years later, it seems inconceivable that they wouldn't have kept in touch by text and Skype for all that time, their electronic connection no doubt becoming as commonplace and dull as they feared it would. In the end, the lesson our two lovers leave us with is this: if you love someone, don't hold back. Communicate. Tell them exactly what is on your mind (and how they can reach you). The regrets to keeping things to yourself could be too heavy to carry around for a lifetime otherwise.

Awesome movie.

Película magnífica y buena edición en DVD. Teniendo cuenta que ya no hacen la edición española, esta hace exactamente el mismo papel pues efectivamente tiene idioma y subtítulos en castellano

J ai les 3. C est un plaisir de les avoir. Le dernier de la trilogie est en version anglaise mais sans importance et je dirai c est meme mieux. Pour les 2 premiers vous pouvez choisir votre langue. Je recommande.

Por desgracia la calidad de imagendeja bastante que desear para una película de principios de los 2000.

Está es un de las mejores trilogías cinematográficas, las tres películas son excelentes y el argumento de ésta es probablemente el que sostiene la trilogía entera. Es importante ver “Antes del Amanecer” primero.