Before Midnight (2013)
Before Midnight, the third installment directed by Richard Linklater, continues to tell the
story and relationship of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years after their second
encounter in France. This time they are married, have twins, and are in Greece.
story and relationship of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years after their second
encounter in France. This time they are married, have twins, and are in Greece.
Out of all the films, this one involves a genuine fight. While there is some bickering and light argument about some topics that Celine and Jesse talk to each other about, this one was way different. Phillip Lopate goes on to mention that this film "keeps veering off into irritable argument, which curiously seems proof that the couple have finally achieved a true intimacy." It is because of this fight that I actually like this movie. Blake Goble also enjoys the fact that they have an intense fight for that fact that it demonstrates "total commitment and bravery in showing marriage as a sometimes imperfect situation."
The idea that marriages and relationships are all about "happily ever after" and constantly being in the "honeymoon phase" is way beyond unrealistic and to be honest, a joke. What this film shows, that so many romance movies avoid, such as Love Actually mentioned by Goble, is the real raw, ugly and bad fights that can occur amongst a couple. They can end up driving a couple away, but it can also drive a couple closer. I personally think it is unhealthy to not have a fight with a significant other because it could cause harm to the relationship and to one's emotional being. If one has an issue with the other, it's better to talk, and possibly and most likely argue, about it so the other knows what is bothering their S.O., then to have it all bottled up and erupt into a bigger and uglier mess/fight. When it comes to Celine and Jesse, the audience is aware that they do still very much love each other, even if Celine tells Jesse she does not love him anymore at the climax of their big fight, because of how invested and in depth the viewers come to learn of each character, and how much both of them still love each other the way they did so many years ago when they first met.
The idea that marriages and relationships are all about "happily ever after" and constantly being in the "honeymoon phase" is way beyond unrealistic and to be honest, a joke. What this film shows, that so many romance movies avoid, such as Love Actually mentioned by Goble, is the real raw, ugly and bad fights that can occur amongst a couple. They can end up driving a couple away, but it can also drive a couple closer. I personally think it is unhealthy to not have a fight with a significant other because it could cause harm to the relationship and to one's emotional being. If one has an issue with the other, it's better to talk, and possibly and most likely argue, about it so the other knows what is bothering their S.O., then to have it all bottled up and erupt into a bigger and uglier mess/fight. When it comes to Celine and Jesse, the audience is aware that they do still very much love each other, even if Celine tells Jesse she does not love him anymore at the climax of their big fight, because of how invested and in depth the viewers come to learn of each character, and how much both of them still love each other the way they did so many years ago when they first met.
a clip of Jesse and Celine fighting (it's only a small portion! the fight goes on at least over five minutes in the film)
It is not until the end of the credits of this film that we learn that these films were dedicated to a woman by the name of Amy Lehrhaupt. It is only then that the audience learns that the basis of Linklater creating these films comes from his own experience. After he had just recently finished shooting his film Slacker, and was on his way home from NY, he decided to pay his sister a visit in Philadelphia. It is because of this decision that he was able to meet this Amy Lehrhaupt. The spent the night together to which Linklater describes that they were "walking around, flirting, doing things you would never do now". If Linklater never had this chance encounter, then he would of never come up with the concept of telling his almost entirely true experience through Jesse and Celine. It is because of this special night that aids in the Linklater's originality in making this film and the other two, just as Woody Allen gets praise for his originality for his film Midnight in Paris. While Amy is the reason for the creation of the first film, I found it fitting to talk about for this film, seeing as this was the film were we discover the inspiration for Linklater to create these three films. It almost comes off as Linklater subtly stating that Before Midnight would be the last film to tell Jesse's and Celine's story. His wanting to keep the night he had with Amy present comes to a rest perhaps, but who knows if he decides to add another installment.
thank you for reading my FILM talk!
Before Sunrise Inspiration
Before Midnight
Debating the Three Films
Oscar’s Unrecognized Adaptations: Woody Allen and the Myth of the Original Screenplay – Wieland Schwanebeck
Before Sunrise Inspiration
Before Midnight
Debating the Three Films
Oscar’s Unrecognized Adaptations: Woody Allen and the Myth of the Original Screenplay – Wieland Schwanebeck