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In 1994, director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Waking Life) made Before Sunrise, a gorgeous poem of a movie about two strangers (played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) wandering around Vienna, talking, and falling in love. Ten years later, Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy have returned with Before Sunset, which reunites the same characters after Hawke has written a book about that night. Delpy appears at the final book reading of his European tour; they have less than two hours before Hawke has to catch a flight to New York...and in that time, they walk around Paris, talk, and fall in love all over again. It sounds simple, perhaps dull, but it's written with such skill and care and acted with such richness that it's a miracle of filmmaking. On its own, Before Sunset is moving and wonderful; seen right after Before Sunrise, it will break your heart. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy. Nine years after a chance meeting and a romantic one-night rendezvous in Vienna, the paths of two virtual strangers cross again in Paris for a second look at what might be love. 2004/color/80 min/R/widescreen.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
189 of 203 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
DVD extras: Not much, just the theatrical trailer and a 10-minute segment called "on the set of Before Sunset", which intersperses bits of interviews between the two actors and the director. I think most people would find it mildly interesting but definitely not essential.
The film itself: "Before Sunset" is the sequel to "Before Sunrise," a wonderful little film from 1995. You don't have to see that film first, but I'd recommend doing so anyway, because it's very good, and because it increases the emotional impact of "Before Sunset".
If you have seen "Before Sunrise" and liked it, you will almost certainly like "Before Sunset." If you found it boring or otherwise unappealing, then skip "Sunset." The two films share a lot in common: an overwhelming focus on the two main characters, lots of good dialog, and a very sweet love story.
There are a few differences:
The acting is better in "Before Sunset." The Jesse character (Ethan Hawke) is more likeable in "Before Sunset" (some people found him slightly annoying in the prequel). In the sequel, there seems to be more tension: they only have 80 minutes rather than a whole night to figure out if they should be together. There's also more at stake: it's so rare in life to find someone with whom you truly connect, and if you let them go, it's even more rare to get a second chance with them later.
Many people who really liked the prequel said that seeing the sequel gave them the sensation of visiting old friends. I felt this too.
I *URGE* you to be very careful about reading other user reviews. Most reviews I've seen give too many hints about the ending.
Those of you who have already seen this film may be interested in discussing the ending. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, STOP READING NOW!
*** SPOILER ALERT! ***
Most people have an opinion about the ending of "Before Sunset." Some love it, some hate it, but most are frustrated by the ambiguity, at least initially. Do they stay together? Or does each of them return to their committed relationship?
We can't be certain what happens, but the writers (Linklater and the two lead actors) have given us some very strong clues.
In the final scene, the song playing on Celine's stereo is called "Just in Time," performed by Nina Simone. Simone is famous for singing very moving, haunting, sad songs. But "Just in Time" is quite happy: "Just in time/I found you just in time/before you came, my time was running low/I was lost/the losing dice were tossed/my bridges all crossed/nowhere to go/Now you're here and now I know just where I'm going/no more doubt or fear/I've found my way/For love came just in time/you found me just in time/and changed my lonely life."
Why do you think the writers picked that song? What do you think it tells us?
(It also might be interesting that Nina Simone was an American living in France. Jesse is American, will he move to France?)
In that final scene, Celine is dancing and playfully singing along with Nina Simone, while Jesse is smiling and enjoying her performance. The last thing Celine says to Jesse is "Baby, you're going to miss that plane," and the last thing he says to her is "that's right" (or something to that effect). Does this sound like how two people who love each other would act if one of them was about to fly away and they were never going to see each other again?
Maybe the ending is not so ambiguous, after all.
The film itself: "Before Sunset" is the sequel to "Before Sunrise," a wonderful little film from 1995. You don't have to see that film first, but I'd recommend doing so anyway, because it's very good, and because it increases the emotional impact of "Before Sunset".
If you have seen "Before Sunrise" and liked it, you will almost certainly like "Before Sunset." If you found it boring or otherwise unappealing, then skip "Sunset." The two films share a lot in common: an overwhelming focus on the two main characters, lots of good dialog, and a very sweet love story.
There are a few differences:
The acting is better in "Before Sunset." The Jesse character (Ethan Hawke) is more likeable in "Before Sunset" (some people found him slightly annoying in the prequel). In the sequel, there seems to be more tension: they only have 80 minutes rather than a whole night to figure out if they should be together. There's also more at stake: it's so rare in life to find someone with whom you truly connect, and if you let them go, it's even more rare to get a second chance with them later.
Many people who really liked the prequel said that seeing the sequel gave them the sensation of visiting old friends. I felt this too.
I *URGE* you to be very careful about reading other user reviews. Most reviews I've seen give too many hints about the ending.
Those of you who have already seen this film may be interested in discussing the ending. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, STOP READING NOW!
*** SPOILER ALERT! ***
Most people have an opinion about the ending of "Before Sunset." Some love it, some hate it, but most are frustrated by the ambiguity, at least initially. Do they stay together? Or does each of them return to their committed relationship?
We can't be certain what happens, but the writers (Linklater and the two lead actors) have given us some very strong clues.
In the final scene, the song playing on Celine's stereo is called "Just in Time," performed by Nina Simone. Simone is famous for singing very moving, haunting, sad songs. But "Just in Time" is quite happy: "Just in time/I found you just in time/before you came, my time was running low/I was lost/the losing dice were tossed/my bridges all crossed/nowhere to go/Now you're here and now I know just where I'm going/no more doubt or fear/I've found my way/For love came just in time/you found me just in time/and changed my lonely life."
Why do you think the writers picked that song? What do you think it tells us?
(It also might be interesting that Nina Simone was an American living in France. Jesse is American, will he move to France?)
In that final scene, Celine is dancing and playfully singing along with Nina Simone, while Jesse is smiling and enjoying her performance. The last thing Celine says to Jesse is "Baby, you're going to miss that plane," and the last thing he says to her is "that's right" (or something to that effect). Does this sound like how two people who love each other would act if one of them was about to fly away and they were never going to see each other again?
Maybe the ending is not so ambiguous, after all.
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
By H. Cassell
Format:DVD
"Before Sunset" is a lovely piece of film making that feels like an 80-minute exercise in eavesdropping on a conversation between two real, knowable people--not actors on the silver screen. The movie is a rarity in this age of fifty-million dollar budgets, graphic sex, extravagant sets, and cheesy special effects (none of which I particularly mind; "Sunset" is just a nice departure from the latest multiplex thriller). It never feels contrived, the way most movie romances do; the (abundant) conversation that makes the movie work is flowing and genuine. The characters seem real, not like paid actors at all (attribute that to Hawke and Delpy's perfect on-screen chemistry). I never got the feeling that either were just reciting lines from a script someone else had written (the director and two lead actors are given full writing credit; thus, the feeling of authenticity). This sentiment of realism holds particularly true toward the end of the film, when Celine angrily shouts at Jesse that he ruined things for her, that their night together nine years ago was as good as it'll ever be, and now she's forced to unfavorably compare everything to that. How can anyone act that without feeling it? I wondered.
As its prequel, "Before Sunrise," was nicely set in Vienna, Paris is a lovely backdrop for "Before Sunset," with (blissfully) nary a shot of the Eiffel Tower in sight and not a note of the typical "fall in love in Paris" accordion music. But the cafes, shops, cobblestone streets, and River Seine are all present in their authentic glory.
I thought the ending, in fitting with the rest of the film, was perfect. What ultimately happens is settled in my mind, which may vary from another's interpretation. Isn't it nice to be able to decide the outcome instead of being force-fed the answers? It will be a long time before I see another movie I enjoyed as much as "Before Sunset."
As its prequel, "Before Sunrise," was nicely set in Vienna, Paris is a lovely backdrop for "Before Sunset," with (blissfully) nary a shot of the Eiffel Tower in sight and not a note of the typical "fall in love in Paris" accordion music. But the cafes, shops, cobblestone streets, and River Seine are all present in their authentic glory.
I thought the ending, in fitting with the rest of the film, was perfect. What ultimately happens is settled in my mind, which may vary from another's interpretation. Isn't it nice to be able to decide the outcome instead of being force-fed the answers? It will be a long time before I see another movie I enjoyed as much as "Before Sunset."
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By Ryan L.
Maybe I sound biased because Richard Linklater's 1995 film Before Sunrise is one of my ten or so all time favorite films, but this improved (and I thought that would be impossible!) sequel to an infinitely great film is truly the best film (so far) of 2004. The screenplay, co-written by director Richard Linklater and stars Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke, is probably one of the most refreshing of this decade. It succeeds on so many levels because of the development of this relationship and the fact that Delpy and Hawke have such a three dimensional knowledge of these complex characters-no, human beings. Fictional of course, but they are still the most humanistic screen "couple" I've ever seen.
Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy), separated for nine years, are undeniably the soul mates often described in their conversations, the ones that dig deeper than small talk. On a book tour in Paris, where Celine now lives, Jesse finds her watching him through a window as he absentmindedly describes the book he has written, which concerns two fictional lovers who meet and spend a night together-quite obviously autobiographical, when the question is implied by an interviewer. From there on, the two reunite and spend a brief but unforgettable afternoon in Paris, wandering the streets.
The screenplay and direction are flawless. The dialogue and its delivery is so natural, so uncontrived I was convinced even more that these were real people that I knew. After all, I've waited nine years too (okay, not really, I only saw Sunrise a year ago). Linklater just observes all that is going on without overly glamorizing it. Delpy and Hawke take this dialogue and make it into their own-they are those Celine and Jesse as far as I'm concerned. Some of the best acting this year can be found in Sunset.
The city of Paris serves as a fluid and dreamlike backdrop to the graceful and powerful, bittersweet and engrossing talk. Sunset is well filmed, and embraces just enough of Paris, which in fact would be more noticeable upon the inevitable second viewing. This city has never looked better on the screen!
I liked the fact that both Jesse and Celine expressed their true feelings through an art form, he with a book, and she with a song. This clearly conveys the message that there still exists romanticism in each of them despite each characters' biting cynicism. Although they never once said a word along the lines of "I love you," you know throughout the entire film that they are still in love with each other. Maybe I am reading too deeply into this film, but I strongly believe that the first place that the two go, the café, is almost like a complete reenactment of the train sequence in certain ways-it is the beginning of their journey and each place is mutual ground where Jesse and Celine are not under pressure, but they can just talk without interruptions or worries about the past.
By the time the ending came around, I held back tears in my eyes-out of happiness for these characters. If a film can do that, it's a winner in my mind. Those last words of the film leave you wanting more, but they are also brilliant and have stuck out in my mind amidst the philosophy and deep discussions. I won't ruin it, but the ending is just so amazing because you know that something good is going to happen.
Do yourself a favor and see Before Sunset before it's too late, and then buy yourself the soundtrack as a memory of this beautiful film so that it is not forgotten until the DVD release.
THE VERDICT: **** (A)
Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy), separated for nine years, are undeniably the soul mates often described in their conversations, the ones that dig deeper than small talk. On a book tour in Paris, where Celine now lives, Jesse finds her watching him through a window as he absentmindedly describes the book he has written, which concerns two fictional lovers who meet and spend a night together-quite obviously autobiographical, when the question is implied by an interviewer. From there on, the two reunite and spend a brief but unforgettable afternoon in Paris, wandering the streets.
The screenplay and direction are flawless. The dialogue and its delivery is so natural, so uncontrived I was convinced even more that these were real people that I knew. After all, I've waited nine years too (okay, not really, I only saw Sunrise a year ago). Linklater just observes all that is going on without overly glamorizing it. Delpy and Hawke take this dialogue and make it into their own-they are those Celine and Jesse as far as I'm concerned. Some of the best acting this year can be found in Sunset.
The city of Paris serves as a fluid and dreamlike backdrop to the graceful and powerful, bittersweet and engrossing talk. Sunset is well filmed, and embraces just enough of Paris, which in fact would be more noticeable upon the inevitable second viewing. This city has never looked better on the screen!
I liked the fact that both Jesse and Celine expressed their true feelings through an art form, he with a book, and she with a song. This clearly conveys the message that there still exists romanticism in each of them despite each characters' biting cynicism. Although they never once said a word along the lines of "I love you," you know throughout the entire film that they are still in love with each other. Maybe I am reading too deeply into this film, but I strongly believe that the first place that the two go, the café, is almost like a complete reenactment of the train sequence in certain ways-it is the beginning of their journey and each place is mutual ground where Jesse and Celine are not under pressure, but they can just talk without interruptions or worries about the past.
By the time the ending came around, I held back tears in my eyes-out of happiness for these characters. If a film can do that, it's a winner in my mind. Those last words of the film leave you wanting more, but they are also brilliant and have stuck out in my mind amidst the philosophy and deep discussions. I won't ruin it, but the ending is just so amazing because you know that something good is going to happen.
Do yourself a favor and see Before Sunset before it's too late, and then buy yourself the soundtrack as a memory of this beautiful film so that it is not forgotten until the DVD release.
THE VERDICT: **** (A)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Like it and really love the idea
Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight is a great idea. I've immensely enjoyed seeing the relationship develop. Read more
Published 9 days ago by charles kimball
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!
This is so cool! Its been billed as the favorite and most unlikely trilogy of our time. Don't consider watching it until you've seen Before Sunrise though. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Pepe
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fitting Sequel
I thought the first movie, Before Sunrise, was terrific. Poignant, fun, thought-provoking. This is a good sequel to it. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Michaline Morrison
1.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely disappointing.
I watched Before Sunrise as a teenager when it was first released in theaters and thought it very romantic. Read more
Published 12 days ago by L. Mrozinski
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than the first film
After watching the first film, I wanted to see how Linklater and the two actors had followed it up. This film feels much more real somehow.
Published 14 days ago by A. Mabilon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Before Sunset review
I think it's best to watch Before Sunrise prior to watching this movie; however, there are a few flashbacks in this movie to give the viewer an idea of what happened several years... Read more
Published 15 days ago by Diane
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a beautiful, beautiful film.
I first watched Before Sunset without having seen Before Sunrise and it took my breath away. The entire film consists of conversations in real time as Jesse and Celine stroll... Read more
Published 22 days ago by Kim A. Huynh
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of My Top 5 Movies
I am a 72 year old seasoned citizen and have seen many movies in my life. "Before Sunset" and "Before Sunrise" are clearly in my top five..... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gepetto
5.0 out of 5 stars
Possibly better than the prequel - a perfect love story for adults.
Here we find the same qualities that made Before Sunrise a masterpiece: the acting, the chemistry between the stars, the glorious scenery, and the quick but authentic dialogue,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by International business traveler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lifechanging!
Before Sunset has restored my faith in love. Watch this alone, for a girls night, or with your loved one and you will not be disappointed.
Published 1 month ago by E. Burks
