Before Sunset (2004)

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writers (WGA):

Richard Linklater (screenplay) &
Julie Delpy (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 June 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

What if you had a second chance with the one that got away?

Plot:

It's nine years after Jesse and Celine first met; now, they encounter one another on the French leg of Jesse's book tour.

Plot Keywords:

Book | French | Reading | Love | Train

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Ethan Hawke	...	Jesse
Julie Delpy	...	Celine
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Bookstore Manager
Louise Lemoine Torres	...	Journalist #1
Rodolphe Pauly	...	Journalist #2
Mariane Plasteig	...	Waitress
Diabolo	...	Philippe
Denis Evrard	...	Boat Attendant
Albert Delpy	...	Man at Grill
Marie Pillet	...	Woman in Courtyard

Also Known As:

Before Sunrise 2 (USA) (working title)
If Not Now (USA) (working title)
Untitled Before Sunrise Sequel (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexual references.

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Spain:13 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Czech Republic:U | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Bern) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:R (Approved No. 40593) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Warner Independent Pictures (WIP)

Trivia:

This film was made 9 years after the first film, which is the length of time between the events in each story.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The boat on the Seine, moves to the east, but in one shot, the boat moves to the opposite direction (The Eiffel Tower is clearly visible, which means the boat travels to the west). The differences between shadows and no shadows on the wharfs of the Seine are also indicating this.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Journalist #1: Do you consider the book to be autobiographical?
Jesse: Uh, well, I mean... isn't everything autobiographical?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Durch die Nacht mit...: Julie Delpy und Bela B." (2004)

Soundtrack:

Bach: Goldberg Variation Number 25

The only problem...

...is that it ends. This is a fantastic film. It joins the handful of movies where I think I liked the sequel even more than the original, although I liked 'Before Sunrise' as well. Where Sunrise captured the immediacy and urgency of perfect youthful love, Sunset reflects beautifully on the aftermath of that perfection. I remember a line that says "nothing that is complete breathes", and I think that is what we see in this film. A perfect connection with another human is a blessing and a curse; having experienced perfection a part of us stops breathing, unable or unwilling to mar the perfection of that memory.

The dialogue is amazing, the acting is spot-on; this is a great film. In some ways it felt more like reading a great novel than watching a movie, in that I really felt like I knew the characters and was sad the movie had to end. Kind of like saying goodbye to an old friend. If you are an action movie kind of person, skip this flick because it will bore you to tears. If, on the other hand, you like good dialogue, well formed characters, and aren't quite jaded enough to have given up completely on the idea of true love, don't miss this film.