Before Sunset

In Richard Linklater's charming 1995 romance "Before Sunrise", the American Jesse and the Frenchwoman Celine met in Vienna, where they spent less than a day together. Despite their short time together, they fell in love. In the film they agreed to meet again, but whether they did, Linklater left uncertain until 9 years later, when the couple meet again in Paris.

In Before Sunset a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since Celine and Jesse first met. Celine has tried a bit of everything, while Jesse has in the meantime acquired a wife and child. Paris is the last stop on his European tour promoting his novel, whose plot has rather a lot in common with his and Celine's first meeting. Celine turns up at the bookshop where Jesse is signing his book. They decide to spend Jesse's last hours in Europe together before he has to catch a plane home to the USA.

Without jumps in time or place, we get an insight into what preoccupies the generation around 30. If you are the same age as Celine and Jesse, and you made their acquaintance 9 years ago, you inevitably go on a sentimental journey. Before Sunset has a minimum of external action and is basically a real talkie, but the dialogue is so interesting and relevant and the acting so convincing that the film both entertains and makes you think.