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Monday, November 29, 2004
before sunset
what if you had a second chance with the one that got away?
end of year 1998, in a small villange in french, i met him for a first time. i was in my only 20s then, very young and fresh and also very naive. i guess we both were. the chemistry between us became stronger when we're in milan for a week. the city itself is a beautiful backdrop for this innocent young couple who spoke mix language - french and english (the polish guy spoke only little english and the indonesian girl spoke only little french). we spent the new year's eve by strolling along the streets of milano while holding hands together. it was a magical romantic night before the guy had to catch his train heading home the next morning. he promised to meet the girl again in that small village in french before she left french for good. turns out his grandmother died and he couldn't make it to french. fate. there were times when i wondered what it's going to be if he did show up.
that's why i could really relate to "before sunset". i saw myself reflected in the film's characters. they reminded me of conversations i've held, dilemmas i've struggled to resolve and the excitement of connecting with someone special.
"before sunset" is a sequel of "before sunrise". but u don't have to see "before sunrise" to appreciate "before sunset" as the writer provides enough flashbacks in the film to give a sense of what came before. the predecessor "before sunrise" is a romantic story about a relationship between an american boy (jesse) and a french girl (celine) who met on the train. it was his last day in europe and he tought on spending the rest of the night exploring the streets of vienna and she agreed to join him. it was a memorable night full of lively, frank and interesting conversation when they discussed their lives, dreams and ambitions. in the morning they parted, but not before promising to meet again 6 months later at the train station to see if they were really meant for each other. did they keep that rendezvous? we can learn from the sequel that it turns out celine's beloved grandmother died and she was unable to be there. jesse however did show up and was heartbroken when she did not appear. they never met up and their lives has been miserable ever since.
nine years have past and now, jesse is in paris after a 10-city book tour of europe doing publicity for his novel based on the encounter and their 14-hour romance. he was at one parisian bookstore for his book signing-interview when he sees her standing quietly outside the window. it's jesse's last night in europe before he has to catch a plane to fly home to his wife and son in new york city.. but he has one hour to spare with his lover of nine years earlier for a short walk together to catch up and renew their old romance. only now they are older, hopefully wiser and much more cynical because of their life experiences. but the attraction between them is not diminished. they discover how easy it is to pick up their conversation again and make a fresh connection after so many years apart and so many moments of regret.
"before sunset" is all about long real-time conversation --yet so natural and interesting-- in a photogenic surrounding **where else if not the narrow parisian streets**.. the film is simply listening to two persons talk. as they wander from the bookstore to a cafe and then a park, board a boat on the seine, and get to jesse's car for the ride to the airport, they talk everything under the sun... from what they both have been doing the last nine years, what each thinks about the state of the world, topics included the environment and politic, the joys of getting older.. to how their love lives are going. there is a rushed feeling as they try to tell each other everything but have only a short time to do so.
 it's very interesting to hear their conversation.. at first both attempt to keep things light as they discuss what they've done with their lives. how it starts with the broad generalities, the positive components of each other's lives, the happy face each wants to impress upon the other.. but as the afternoon continues, honesty demands more depth and the masks come off. we finally learn that jesse is not just a successful novelist, he's trapped in a loveless marriage. he loves his son but he describes the condition of his marriage as if he's running a joint daycare center for the child with someone he used to date. celine on the other hand has grown to be a bit more cynical in the years. she has a boyfriend but she has never found a man who really inspires her. she thinks she has bad luck with men: they all say she taught them how to love, but all of them have left her and married someone else. she was damaged internally by disappointments in relationships.
 it is amazing how a film can be made so interesting, just focusing on conversation between two persons. ethan hawke and julie delpy give their great natural performances. the chemistry between them is excellent. they look really comfortable together. the conversation itself sounds exactly right in every detail. they are honest conversations. helmer linklate cowrote the screenplay in collaboration with hawke and delpy and the trio have done an amazing job. from the interview with delpy, i learn that they didn't improve a word. everything was written - every gesture, every break in the conversation, every moment where they look at each other.. everything was written and rehearsed.
unfortunately, "before sunset" is not for all tastes. the entire movie was built around conversation.. the focus never shifts from hawke and delpy, who also never stop moving except for a brief cafe stop.. kids these days won't have enough patience for a movie that consists of all conversation. this is beautiful movie though and a must see for those who love different kind of movies. "before sunset" assumes that its audience is intelligent and interested in love, in lost opportunities, in the possibility of redemption. it celebrates the pleasures of conversation, a quality that's been avoided by most american films. only few american films have the courage to rely entirely on dialogue and delpy supports this argument by saying that it's very hard to convince a company to give them money to do this sequel.
the ending is beautifully handled. there are questions left unaswered and there are both possibilities that these two may never see one another again or vice versa - depending on how u interpret the final scenes. where the story goes is left up to the viewers' imagination. would it be just another chance encounter? like celine's saying to jesse: "maybe we're only good at brief encounters, walking around eruopean cities at sunset". well, i would love to see a third chapter of jesse and celine's romance.
they have discovered this unique connection, special link with each other that some people try to capture their entire lives. have you discovered yours?
stelly @ 10:01 AM
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