The central characters, Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) find their lives consumed by the needs of their children, realizing that perhaps their own youthful ambitions may have been lost along the way. We are acutely aware of their weariness, lost dreams and disillusionments. The film takes the same approach as the two previous films, using conversation as a vehicle for plot. The film is set during a family vacation to Greece. Richard Linklater’s direction is impeccable. His ability to get such moving performances out his actors is unmatched. It is essential for the audience’s involvement with the film that the actors are completely believable and true to character. It is Linklater ability to construct a reality that is perfectly imperfect, taking otherwise predictable situations and meticulous constructing a reality that is so easy to relate to that keeps us riveted.

Linklater gives incredible attention to detail providing great authenticity to the film. Jesse and Celine’s interactions in Before Sunrise, set in Vienna were dream-like. In Before Sunset, years after their encounter in Vienna, Jesse is reunited with Celine in Paris, the city of love. Their rekindled relationship glows with idealism. Years later in Before Midnight, the idealism has settled into predictability, and their dreams shattered by Jesse’s emotional baggage, which was blindingly ignored before because of his naive belief that Celine is his salvation. Before Sunrise and Sunset setup the inevitable emotional collapse in Before Midnight. It’s existence as the third film in a trilogy is fitting continuation of this relationship which we are now so invested in. Before Midnight requires a viewing of the previous films in the trilogy for the audience to fully appreciate the evolution of Jesse and Celine’s relationship. Highly recommended.

Vincent Magnet