Review: Before Sunset

Before Sunset is the latest offering from director Richard Linklater. The film is a sequel to Before Sunrise, a film which recounted the brief Vienna encounter of Jesse, played by Ethan Hawke, and Celine, portrayed by Julie Delpy. This film takes place in Paris, 10 years after the first. Appropriately, the characters, played once again by Hawke and Delpy, have only a few hours to renew their acquaintance.

The movie takes place very nearly in real time as the characters learn about each other all over again. The direction and cinematography is light and informal. It never intrudes on the story. The real strength of this film, though, is the writing. Though some of the speeches might have benefitted from a bit of editing, the evolution of the characters' relationship over the course of the film is magical and remarkably natural. Once again Hawke and Delpy use words not only as a mechanism of communication but also as a means of obscuring their true feelings. Even the silent interludes appear full of meaning.

8 of 10 reels