Before Sunset | Critique | Movie review | Unusual Love Stories-Part 4

Note- To read review of ‘Before Sunrise’, Click here.

Rating - 5/5 Stars

“Journalist : Do you consider the book to be autobiographical?
Jesse: Well, I mean , isn’t everything autobiographical?”
Nine years after events of ‘Before Sunrise’ Jesse is in Paris, attending a book conference for his book he authored; a fictionalized account of his meeting with Celine. And there Celine is waiting for him, we soon get to know that Celine couldn’t make for their scheduled meeting after 6 months of ‘before sunrise’ at Vienna.

Jesse has just few hours before his flight to US. They decide to spend the time talking. The beauty of the script is how natural their conversation is. It goes through various stages; Firstly, They are formal in talking, like people are when they meet after a long time; then they talk about life in general what they have been doing; then proceed to talk about each other, their personal problems. This transition of their talk is so natural and real that you just can’t help but love the whole thing.

The actors are just too natural to seem acting. The secret is that the director and both actors all three contribute to the story. In fact, both actors have added their personal details to the movie, which make it even real and their acting even more natural.

This movie, similar to Before Sunrise is just about them talking. Both the actors have considerably aged in the movie, which again adds a realistic touch. If I were to pick one performance of the two actors it has to be Julie Delpy. Though even her role is more substantial, but she has just performed too well! Atleast an Oscar nomination was deserved for her performance

In the last scene where Celine enacts one of her favorite singers, on stage, and towards the end tells Jesse in the same singer’s style, “Celine: Baby, you are gonna miss that plane. Jesse: I know.” This in my opinion has to be one of the sweetest scenes I can remember in all the films (I was initially giving it 4.5 stars, additional ½ star in the rating is for this amazing scene)

PS – If you remember Saif Ali Khan- Rani Mukherjee Starrer ‘Hum Tum’, also had protagonist writing a bestseller to reach to his lost love. Coincidence? I think NOT!

PPS- Ethan Hawke has indicated that maybe they MAY make a third film. Though the premise in my opinion narrative has reached a wonderful end, but I trust Ethan Hawke- Richard Linklater –Julie Delpy trio to spin a soulful story once again. I for one will wait for eternity to see the next part.

Written By Ali Naqvi