"Before Sunset" is a masterpiece - the perfect sequel to the best modern romance "Before Sunrise"

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2018)

"Before Sunset" is genuinely a modern masterpiece in every aspect. Once again the great trio / dream team that consists of Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater, and Julie Delpy showcase their magic on-screen so sweetly, that you will never want this movie to end. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have co-written the story/ screenplay of this great flick with director Richard Linklater.
Ethan Hawke said in one of his interviews that "Before Sunset is a romance for realists". This statement basically summarises the movie in a capsule form. This movie continues the story of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) nine years after their first romantic interaction. The movie opens with Jesse giving an interview to journalists in Paris about a book that he recently wrote and had it published. The book features the romantic adventure of Jesse and Celine during their one night stay in Vienna.
As Jesse is answering the various questions by journalists, he notices that Celine is standing nearby. He quickly ends the interview and goes to meet Celine. Viewers soon get to know the fact that Jesse did come to Vienna six months after their first meeting (just as they had planned and promised). However, Celine could not reach Vienna because she had to attend her grandmother's funeral. The two had not given each other their phone contact, address , etc - so Jesse never knew the reason for her absence in Vienna until now.
As Jesse and Celine continue their conversation along the streets of Paris, we find out that a lot has happened in their lives within these nine years - Jesse is married and has a son, but he is still in love with Celine. Celine has had, in her own words, " a lot of blah relationships", but she is also still in love with Jesse.
They continue talking about a lot of issues. Finally, when Jesse is about to go to the airport with his designated driver, he offers to drop Celine at her home. When they arrive at Celine's home, Jesse walks with her inside, and asks her to sing one song. As Celine sings the "waltz" song (Julie Delpy really sang this herself), it becomes very clear that she is still madly in love with Jesse, and vice versa. When Celine reminds Jesse that he will be late and miss the plane, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) smiles and says " I know". The movie ends with Celine freely dancing to music being played and Jesse still sitting there and smiling and admiring her.
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have once again given such natural performances, that viewers will simply fall in love with them , and their romantic yet very realistic interaction with each other. The director, Mr Richard Linklater, once again proves the fact that he is one of the best movie-directors in the history of cinema.