Before Sunset (2004)
Before Sunset, directed by Richard Linklater, is set nine years after the initial encounter between Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), in which both of them cross paths once again when Jesse is in France promoting his book.
One of things that I got to learn and find fascinating was how much more actor Ethan Hawke and actress Julie Delpy got involved into this film by becoming screenwriters for this film, alongside Linklater and Kim Krizan, and getting into character once again. Petr Knava mentions how both Hawke and Delpy talk about "how often one would write line for the other character" and as Hawke and Delpy grow, so does Jesse and Celine. Even after years pass by, the actors know each other on a deeper level, and by creating a second film, they allow the audience to have relief knowing that Jesse and Celine were still "alive" living their lives as well, all while the mystery is still there wondering what became of Jesse and Celine. Roger Ebert also recognizes and praises Hawke's and Delpy's contribution to the screenplay and how they depict Jesse and Celine by stating how "they lead up to personal details very delicately; at the beginning they talk politely and in abstractions, edging around the topics we (and they) want answer to..."
Just like Linklater did in the first film, he does a great job once again focusing on Celine and Jesse as they once again talk endlessly to one another as they catch each other up of their lives for the past 9 years. In the Before Sunset commentary done by Professor Brems, he talks about the use of camera shots used in the scene where Jesse decides to walk Celine to her apartment. The whole time they are walking to the destination (up until the part where they walk up the staircase) they are lost in conversation. In these few minutes in the film, Linklater chooses to incorporate a tracking shot and steady cam, so it gives the idea that the audience is there watching them talk in any direction (behind, in front of, and to the side) the camera chooses to shoot. Another great example where we see Linklater use his go-to uninterrupted long shot is when Celine and Jesse walk outside of the bookstore and begin their long awaited talk and wanting desire to catch up and learn what each of them has been up to.
Out of all of the films, this one was my favorite. I liked the idea of how much Jesse and Celine still wondered about each other even nine years later, while still living out a life of their own, such as Jesse getting married and having a kid and Celine having a boyfriend. Another thing that I really liked about this film was that it was able to answer the questions that so many were left wondering and asking since the ending of the first film nine years prior to the release of this film, that I thankfully did not have to wait for.