I'm not typically one for romantic films, but I was sure surprised when I recently saw Richard Linklater's "Before" trilogy, a fascinating story of fate, love, and marriage told over the course of 3 films and almost 2 decades.
The first film in the trilogy, "Before Sunrise" begins as sparks fly between complete strangers Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) on a train in Europe. When they decide to spend a night together to get to know each other, the two begin to fall in love. As they explore the city of Vienna, they begin to realize that fate has brought them together, but that it will take them away, as they regretfully must part ways the next day. Understanding that they may never see each other again, Jesse and Celeste set out to make the best of their one and only night.
Fortunately, as fate has it, the two lovers reunite once again. Oops, spoiler alert. In 2004's "Before Sunset", Jesse, now an unhappily married man and accomplished writer, meets Celine, an environmentalist, on a chance encounter during a book signing in Paris. It has been 9 years since that fateful night. But the connection between them still remains, and Jesse requests Celine to spend the limited time that he has left in America with him before his flight. The two begin to learn more about each other and discover how much they have changed since they last met. But as they are about to part ways yet again, Jesse and Celine begin to wonder if their love for each other is real, despite being miles apart.
9 years since the "Sunset", we meet Jesse and Celine one more time, in 2013's final installment in the trilogy, "Before Midnight". Now married and with a family of their own, we follow them as they spend a vacation together in Greece. Jesse is filled with regret that he cannot always be with his son, whom he sends to America with his ex-wife, and he wants Celine and his daughters to move to the states so that he can be closer with his child. Celine, on the other hand, is excited yet doubtful about a possible new career opportunity in the Parisian government, where she and Jesse and their family currently live. As the day progresses, however, the couple begins to realize that their hopes and wishes in life are conflicting and that their once-perfect marriage has reached a dangerous crossroads that threatens their love for one another.
Linklater's "Before" trilogy is a beautiful love story, with each film being distinctly unique and emotionally resonating. "Sunrise" teaches about the power of fate; life is unpredictable, and so are our destinies. "Sunset" teaches about true love and its transcendence over time. And "Midnight" teaches us that love and marriage are not perfect; it is a unified commitment that is filled with many challenges, but it is also a blessing worth fighting for.
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are absolutely mesmerizing to watch. Their chemistry is so perfect, and it is such a delight to see them grow together through these films, with their performances building upon each movie. It truly feels like we're right there with Jesse and Celine on their journeys. And what I like about these films is that they are not like typical romantic dramas; they are not overly sappy and melodramatic. What they are, in fact, are more realistic and honest portrayals of finding love in the most unexpected places in life. A large portion of each of these films are just one-on-one conversations between the two characters as they explore and discover the city around them and its culture. And that may sound boring to most, but it's the beautiful cinematography, Hawke and Delpy's honest and moving performances, and the amazing script (written by the actors themselves and the director, Richard Linklater) that make this romantic trilogy so unforgettable and lovely to watch.
Overall rating: 5/5
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