A PERFECT little gem of a movie

Rating: 10/10 (20 February 2014)

Very little about this movie prepared me for this absolutely delightful film. Ethan Hawke isn't one of my favourite actors, I had never heard of Julie Delpy, nor the director Richard Linklater, before.
I have watched the movie twice. Actually I wasn't fully paying attention when I watched it the first time, but starting with Jessie (Ethan Hawke's character) fielding questions about whether his novel is autobiographical, it got me good, and never let go for one second; up till the very last scene where Jessie said "I know". Fade- out. One of the most remarkable thing about this movie is the continuity. The whole movie felt like it was just one take, lending it such authenticity and immediacy. Of course, I had to see Before Sunrise afterwards; and I must say that I like this second installment a whole lot more. Before Sunrise is much more "ordinary", and I don't know whether it is because I watched Before Sunset first. In fact, I might end up thinking Before Sunrise is superfluous. In other words, in a way I wish I had not gone ahead and watched Before Sunrise.
This is not so much a love story. To me, a love story can only be told, in whole, afterwards, with a definitive ending. This film is more about romance, and feelings. It may yet develop into a love story, if there are more installments to come.
The film should not be compared with epic love stories like Doctor Zhivago, but surely can stand on its own merits as an example of a "perfect" movie.
Finally, as I was brought up in a "gentler" age, the few instances of the f-word did jar my sensibilities, but I can put all that down to context, given the world we are living in now.