Casual Critic Mini Reviews

Before Sunset (USA) (Warner Bros) (2004) ****Year: 2004iMDB

Director: Richard Linklater Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

9 years ago, Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy) fortuitously met in Vienna, spent together an unforgettable romantic night and decided to test the fatefulness of their encounter by setting up a meeting in 6 months, without exchanging any other method of communicating with each other. Before Sunrise told the story of that encounter and became a classic romantic movie although it left a lot of dreaming hearts unhappy for not knowing whether the two apparent soul mates met again as planned or if they only had a special one-night encounter.

Before Sunset clears that mistery as Jesse and Celine meet again, but only after 9 years since, for reasons beyond their control, they could not meet each other as planned. Jesse is visiting Paris, Celine's hometown, as part of a tour launching his new book, a novel which basically re-tells the story of their first encounter and the impact that it had on Jesse. Their reunion is every bit as romantic as their first encounter even though their lives took them in separate directions, Jesse being married with a son, Celine having a steady boyfriend.

Before Sunset, just like its predecessor shows a genuine intellectually stimulating romance, based on instant attraction and witty conversation. While it may seem a bit cheesy at points, it is no more cheesy than what every couple in love experiences at one point or another, at the peak of their relation. Jesse and Celine are afraid to rekindle feelings that never quite died and are mentally dancing around each other hoping maybe that the other one will be the first to let down their guard... And then... we may find out in a few more years what happens to them.