Masterful Ending

Rating: 10/10 (22 January 2005)

I have felt cheated at one time or another by a movie where the ending took all of the wind out a film. This film is brilliant.
I do not include any spoilers as I hope my review encourages people to rent this DVD.
If you haven't seen Before Sunrise many of the subtleties of reference to the earlier film will be lost and that...that would be criminal if you truly enjoy a movie where ACTING not plot points are your film devour. After seeing it on the big screen I was waiting with baited breathe to rent both Before Sunrise and Before Sunset together for my fiancée who hadn't heard of either. He was truly moved by Before Sunrise and was anxious to see Before Sunset as the second,third and fourth course to this wonderful meal.
The movie was written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke and as you will see in the special features, it was a collaboration spanning 9 years. Now to the point.....
The lovers meet again by chance in Paris where Jesse (Ethan Hawke)is promoting his novel written about his passion for Celine (Julie Delpy) 9 years earlier that only spanned one day and night. It is that one day and night that sustains these characters and in the same way taints the way they look at love since they met years earlier.
The characters effortlessly connect again while taking in a coffee at a café'. You don't sense that this is anything but a lucky coincidence as they pick up with a Decalogue they so enjoyed years earlier as they walk through the Parisian streets. (So beautiful!!) Nothing too personal is mentioned until an hour into the film and that you will need to see, hear and feel for yourselves. To quote the movie would be giving away the secret that unlocks this extraordinary film.
While the characters have moved on since that morning they said goodbye, it is interesting to watch them discover what happened 6 months later that kept them apart.
It is romantic, funny, sad, touching and most of all...loyal to themselves, the respect of time gone by and most importantly, the movie's audience.
4 stars with a recommendation of buying the film.