Before Sunset 2004 by Richard Linklater sequel to Before Sunrise 1995.
The sequel comes 9 years after a film that had a very open ending so I had started a Thread to speculate as to what might have happened to the characters in the meantime. Now here’s the post-having-seen-it Thread.
Just saw it earlier tonight and loved it. I was really surprised at how satisfying it was for me. The ending of the first film really left so much open for the audience to come up with their own ideas of how things would turn out. That movie came out 9 years ago and I’ve seen it several time since, so I’ve had plenty of time to come up with my own ideas of what the future held for these characters (and my ideas have changed several times over the past 9 years). I’ve even had some stimulating arguments with people as to how things would turn out.
I really thought there was a good chance that I would want to resist whatever Linklater had to tell me about what happened. But he, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy really just knew the characters so well (9 years ago and now) that their new story will make perfect sense to any fan of the first film. Not that there aren’t surprises, but they are surprises that are completely grounded in the characters that we met ten years ago.
They also manage to keep all the charm of the first movie. Again a great date movie!
For those of you who want more:
Jesse and Celine have to help a rag-tag group of kids to overcome the restrictions of their straightlaced parents to become a world-class Rock n’ Roll band!
Just kidding!
[SPOILER]At the end of the first movie they agreed to meet in 6 months but did not exchange contact information. Jesse showed up but Celine didn’t (Her grandmother died and the funeral was on the same day that she was to meet up with Jesse!) She spent 9 years ago wondering what could have been. He spent 9 years hurt that she didn’t show. Both gave up on romantic notions of love and sought out relationships based on more practical notions.
When they meet up again (Jesse is in Paris on a book signing tour, Celine had seen the advertisement for the signing) They immediately click and are able in many ways to pick up where they left off- in other ways their regret and resentment that they lost each other for 9 years causes friction between them.
They give us another great open ending! Jesse has a plane to catch and by the end of the film he still hasn’t left for the airport. Celine: “You’re going to miss your plane.” Does he stay or go??? We don’t know!!! Aaaargh!!! Wonderful![/SPOILER]
I’ll definitely see this film a few times in the theatre. Already one of my favorites of the year!