Release Date: 28 October 2004 (Exclusively at Cathay Cineplex Orchard)

Synopsis :

When Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) met on a Eurail train, the connection between them was immediate and profound. The 14-hour relationship that followed, as the pair explored the spontaneous and unexpected in Vienna, ended on a train platform where they swore they'd meet again six months later. Nine years have passed since that morning. On the last stop of his book tour, at the tail end of a reading in a Paris book shop, Jesse finds Celine watching from the back of the room. She lives in Paris now, he in New York. He's flying out that evening and they utilize every moment, finding their human connection no less vital, inspiring or real than it was in nine years ago in Vienna. In a stimulating and revealing journey through Paris, in real time, these two individuals explore the inner workings of their hearts and minds and rediscover their rare yet powerful love for the unexpected, the unrehearsed, and each other.

Review:

After nine years, the actor, actress, director and crew return for the sequel to “Before Sunrise”. I did not even know about the original film’s existence until the sequel “Before Sunset” came along. However, I was intrigued by the setup of how two individuals had to search out their true feelings, under the ever-looming time constrain with the backdrop of Paris creating a romantic aura enveloping this couple.

Time played a big factor in this film. The nine years separating the two films allow Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy to age as their characters Jesse and Celine does in the film, magnifying the maturity and sensuality that both actors and characters possess now. The film was also shot in real time: an 80-minute movie that took place over their reunion, up until Jesse’s homeward bound flight.

Their conversation started with their careers, politics, the environment, the reasons for not meeting up and exchanging contacts years ago. The conversation gradually grew more personal and conscience slowly chipped away at their pretense and they dropped their defenses and revealed the emotions that they had been holding back.

In a way, this film reflects a part of our lives. You will only get to know more about the other person as the conversation goes on, every subtle bit of information such as a single gesture or body language adds a piece to the jigsaw of a person’s character. The characters played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reacting to the scenarios that they had to go through were not exaggerated by the normal romantic movies standard. Their lives have been scattered with incidents that everyday folks like us can relate to. It's a show you can simply float along with the subtle, yet realistic undercurrents.

Not to worry if you haven’t watched the original, as you will be able to catch on what had happened easily. This film is good enough to stand on its own. Die-hard romantics or fans of movies such as “French Kiss”, “Love me if you dare” and “Titanic” would probably enjoy the film. This movie is definitely not for restless or people that are easily bored. It would require some concentration to the continuous dialogue to understand what underlying messages Jesse and Celine were trying to convey to each other.

This is not a straightforward film and many aspects of the film are left to the viewers’ interpretation. Watching this film is like listening to a Jazz piece, if it appeals to you, you will love it, however, if it’s not your cup of tea, you properly will start your own conversation with your friends (like the couple that was seated beside me). This is a movie to be tasted and savored in your own time, for you to fully appreciate the fullness of the show.