Connection in Before Sunset
- myra dodd
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
I recently watched Before Sunset for the first time. Then I watched it two more times.
Before Sunset is the second in Richard Linklater's beloved "Before trilogy." These movies are remarkably stripped back compared to typical romance films. They feature two characters and almost exclusively two characters in conversation over a short period of time. Before Sunrise, the first of the trilogy, is about idealism and a whirlwind romance of youth and passion. Its sequel is about two people who have faced a decade of disappointment and reality, forced to relive the most romantic and surreal moment of their younger lives.
The reason Before Sunrise doesn't work for me is that it feels caught up in a fantastical young romance that I feel I should want, but I find almost nothing to connect with it. Before Sunset is described as "the what could have been" of the trilogy, and that's why it's the most intriguing to me. They have already lived their lives without each other. That's not really an option anymore. They could continue that way, but neither of them is happy. They can't guarantee they won't get sick of each other. We're not even sure whether they'll take that gamble or what that would look like. But at this point, there's almost no harm in trying. Jesse and Celine have spent years living through the "what ifs" in their heads. That's why it's particularly devastating when they find out they spent years in the same city and didn't even know it, with the other literally just out of sight. Somehow, returning to the same characters 10 years later, when all they have of each other and their time together is the memories, it becomes more real.
Jesse and Celine are not forced together by any circumstances; they don’t have a long history, or similar circumstances, mutual friends, or anything that drives them together besides their desire to talk to one another. It’s about reality and disappointment, and yet it is still immensely hopeful, as together they still feel the same idealism from their youth. Even at the more serious moments, the movie is lit entirely by the sun. The movie is bathed in sunlight, exceedingly warm. Despite being a night person, I find myself drawn to the warmth. It feels brighter and more hopeful as the characters
Something that sets Before Sunset apart from other romance movies and many rom-coms is that it doesn't strip characters down to traditional gender roles. Especially as a queer person, I’ve found it hard to find something more genuine inside many popular romance films. Before Sunset isn’t about artificial relationships, based on a bet, or two people getting together simply because they’re young and hot. (The first one already kind of did that.) What brought Jesse and Celine back together was their persistence in recalling the night they shared. A lot of my problem with rom-coms is the sexist stereotypes that they often fall into. Celine and Jesse feel absent from that at this point in their lives. We don’t have to assume anything about their relationship or dynamic. I wouldn’t even describe it as inherently romantic. This is a movie about connection. There isn’t a kiss; they both have other partners at the moment, a fact that isn't brought up until the latter half. They aren't looking for anything in particular. What makes it so powerful is how much they enjoy each other's company. Jesse consistently tells Celine that he just likes talking to her. Even when she gets worked up and frustrated, he reassures her that her presence is enough.
I haven't even reached the age of the characters in the first movie, and yet I relate more to the feelings of 30-year-olds. There are about 20 lines I find myself really connecting to, and another 50 that I can easily see myself growing into. One of the most striking lines of the movie is “I guess when you’re young, you just believe there will be many people with whom you connect, but later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.” If anything, I see this as the film's thesis. They've spent 10 years with this sense of longing, mourning for what could have been. And when finally given the chance to reconnect, everything is still exceedingly perfect. The culmination of a decade of reflecting and waiting, only to realize that they are still just as compatible as they were before. Their lives have moved on because they had to, but they didn't really want to. They didn't have a choice, not really, and that's kind of the scariest part.
A couple of other unrelated moments that have really stuck with me: Jesse tells Celine that no one's disposition truly changes over time. Celine tells Jesse that she never truly forgets anyone; she always “misses the most mundane things.” I’m not sure whether he genuinely believes that or simply wants to live in the glow of the youthful idealism he had when they met.
Despite there being two equally important characters, I see the movie through Jesse's perspective. The film opens during a Q&A during Jesse's book tour. He admits only writing about what he knows, in this case, a young whirlwind romance with an ambiguous ending. One he wrote about his and Celine's night in Vienna, which he later admits was deep down an attempt to see her again. Jesse repeatedly tells Celine that he simply likes talking with her and prolongs their encounter at every chance he can. During the brief interactions with other Parisians, we don’t get subtitles, leaving us in the same boat as Jesse, slightly confused and reliant on Celine. Small details like this pull me further into the same desperation and longing that Jesse feels throughout their encounter.
I don’t tend to rewatch movies, even the ones I consider my favorites, but something about this one I couldn't get out of my head. I’ve been trying to get some of my friends to watch with me over the past couple of weeks, but unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out. I thought it was a shame, but I think it's secretly a blessing watching Before Sunset is an embarrassing experience. I’ve watched it once a week the past three weeks, and the whole time, I’m not able to wipe the smile off my face. While watching, I find my eyes drawn to whoever is not talking. Particularly Ethan Hawke, who is incredible at looking absolutely enamored while Julie Delpy is talking. Their performances are so organic and truly the heart of the movie. Not to mention the ending, which is etched into my brain at this point. God, I love Nina Simone.
Before Sunset is about two people who have faced a decade of disappointment and reality, forced to relive the most romantic and surreal moment of their younger lives. It's about righting the wrongs and taking chances. I find it as something to strive for. A connection so natural that, despite years apart and only a few hours together, you remember forever. I’m not sure how it’ll hit me in ten years, but I’m fearful if it’s more than now.
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