‘Before Sunset’ is a romantic-drama sequel to ‘Before Sunrise’, released nine years earlier in 1995. I don’t recommend watching this film until you have watched Sunrise. If you have not seen ‘Before Sunrise’, SKIP the rest of this PARAGRAPH because of SPOILERS. In [spoiler]‘Before Sunrise’, two strangers, Jesse and Celine, meet in Vienna and share a one-night affair, promising each other it would be a casual one-day affair. However, they fell in love and parted ways in the morning, each in opposite directions. Neither knew each other’s last names, phone numbers, or addresses, but they departed with the promise to meet up again six months later at the same train station. Circumstances kept them from uniting them then, and they led separate lives for nine years.[/spoiler] In Sunset, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) becomes a prolific writer and writes a bestselling novel depicting the unforgettable day he spent with Celine. In his book tour, he travels to Paris, and Celine (Julie Delpy) goes to meet him. They immediately reconnect and pick up where they left off nine years earlier, despite being older, more mature, and changed people. It’s as if their love for each other transcends time and space. This time, though, Jesse has only until sunset to drive to the airport and return to the US, giving them two hours together in Paris.

I found this film touching and filled with warmth. The dialogue, acting, directing, camera work, and cinematography are superb. Many scenes go on for minutes. In fact, one shot lasts over 11 minutes long, which is remarkable to get everything right. I believe ‘Before Sunrise’ and ‘Before Sunset’ have some of the best dialogue lines I have heard, crafted by director Richard Linklater and principal actors Hawke and Delpy. It always feels genuine and tangible that you lose track of the fact that it’s a movie. We notice their strengths and flaws, thoughts and dreams, happiness and heartbreak, fears and hopes—all encapsulated within the brief time they have to explore Paris. I can’t get enough of the line delivery and chemistry between Hawke and Delpy. It’s almost perfect with infectious charm. The atmosphere and setting filmed in Paris, the City of Love, is such an ideal fit for making this film work on a thematic level. It’s also relatable, much like ‘Sunrise’ was, for anyone who ever reconnected with an old friend or classmate or acquaintance years later and picked up their friendship right where they left off. Jesse and Celine click with such honesty that you feel you are eavesdropping on a private, intimate moment.

Would I recommend it? Yes. I suggest you watch ‘Before Sunrise’ before this film, but I enjoyed both very much, especially the dialogue. While there isn’t much edge-of-the-seat action, I still believe you’ll be eager to see how the film unravels and whether they end up together.

Let me start by saying that I was extremely disappointed with the sequel to Before Sunrise, Before Sunset. It fell far short of what I expected after viewing the first element of the trilogy.

After having a good amount of time spent watching Before Sunrise, I expected Before Sunset to be a sequel that lived up to the hype. However, that did not happen. First of all, I must say that I loved the introduction of Jesse's situation in Paris. The presentation, the way it was written and intrepreted by Ethan Hawke (who is to be truly congratulated for his magnificent performance in this film and the previous one) and just the bookstore they chose (which is a real beauty) creates a certain comfort. It is almost as if the viewer is given the opportunity to settle down on his couch to the sound of magnificent words, for a wonderful journey is coming. And it is because of this that my disappointment is extremely greater than I expected.

So I first criticize a fact that has been haunting me: is it possible that they still give Ethan fewer lines? He is an incredible, genuine actor who gives his all for the work, and for some reason that I don't understand, he hardly speaks at all in the first forty minutes. Instead, we are stuck listening to the wonderful stories of Céline, Julie Delpy's character. I was obviously ironic. And that brings me to my next criticism: the theme of conversations during the first forty or forty-five minutes. Everything that is discussed always revolves around the sexual relationships they had and she had afterwards and the like. If someone can explain to me what the need is for the viewer to know the story of Céline's boyfriend and the Buddhist monks, I'd really appreciate it. This criticism obviously and mostly stems from Céline. It really tires me to hear the same thing over and over again. And it derives in the next thought. Tell me, until the last twenty-five minutes, what do we learn that is of real importance about Jesse and Céline? About Jesse we know almost nothing, because he has virtually zero dialogue compared to Céline. About Céline, we already know what she talks about. So I guess I can say that what the film lacks is character development.

In contrast, the good points. The first is obviously Ethan Hawke. Great actor and you can see that he enjoys the moments he spends making this trilogy, because the result, on his part, is truly stunning. The way he shows himself and the feelings he reveals while conveying his dialogues allows the viewer to create an empathy with his character (the same is not true for Julie Delpy, I find it extremely difficult to like her character). The second is my favorite part of the film: the last half hour. This is where we see the little but important character development and where we see the most impactful dialogues. The third is the end. By ending with a cliffhanger, Linklater creates a high desire to view the third film. Did he miss the plane? I guess I'll have to see the third and final element of this collection to figure it out.

It is in these moments that I wish other numbers could be put in as ratings, as I feel torn. Do I give it 3.5, largely because of the dialogues (which have haunted me since the first element of the trilogy, Before Sunrise)? Do I give it a 4, largely because of the attempt at truthfulness to humanize the characters, beyond carnal desire, in the last half hour? I'd prefer to give it a 3.7, but since that's not possible, I'll give it a 4, to the confidence that the third will be better. If it is not, I will edit this review and will lower the rating of 4 that I gave to Before Sunset.
(699 words; my biggest and best review)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edit: Edit: I saw the third element of the trilogy a few days ago and found it mediocre. However, I also realized that, despite having a lot of filler and cringe situations, 4 is a well-deserved grade for Before Sunset.

(699 words; my biggest and best review)