DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

Before Sunset is a sequel to a movie I never saw, nor even wanted to see.

In 1995, writer/director Richard Linklater, who’d previously done Dazed and Confused (“See it with a bud!”), co-wrote a story about a French grad student (Julie Delpy) meeting an American slacker (Ethan Hawke) on a train bound for France. The whole movie takes place in one night. It’s a talking movie, showing little but Hawke’s and Delpy’s characters getting to know one another, falling in love, facing the sad reality that they’d have only those few hours together. (That explains why I didn’t see it: no rock bands, no espionage, no seven-figure CGI budget. Who’d pay $8 to see a couple of people talking? )

Linklater rejoined his co-writer and cast to create a sequel. As in real life, characters Jesse and Celine are nine years older. Jesse has become a writer; his first successful book tells the story of one night spent on a train with a French grad student. In Paris to promote the book, he’s floored to have Delpy’s character appear at a book signing.

The characters have had nine years to think about what might have been. A few scenes of Before Sunrise are shown as flashbacks — Hawke and Delpy are nine years younger, charged with youth and hope and possibility… making the new scenes all the more poignant. Seeing the new lines in these characters’ faces drives home the loss of nine years. A lot of life has passed them by.

Before Sunset benefits from nine years’ experience. It’s about second chances, and Linklater appropriately raises the bar both for his characters and himself. Rather than 14 hours, this time Jessie and Celine have only 80 minutes; the movie takes place in real-time. It’s a film of an 80-minute conversation. And perhaps because I’m also nine years older, I sat captivated by it.

I recommend this movie. It’s not necessary to have seen Before Sunrise first… although you’ll probably want to see it later.