Before Sunset (2004)

Before Sunset is the intimate, dialogue-driven sequel to Before Sunrise (1995), directed by Richard Linklater and co-written with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who also reprise their roles as Jesse and Celine. The film is an exploration of missed chances, reconnection, and the quiet complexities of adult life and love.

Set in real time over a roughly 80-minute walk around Paris, it continues the story of two people who once shared a night of deep connection and philosophical conversation and now, nine years later, find themselves face-to-face again.

Detailed Summary

Jesse’s Book Tour in Paris

The film opens in the cozy confines of Shakespeare and Company, a legendary English-language bookstore in Paris. Jesse (Ethan Hawke), now a successful author, is giving a reading of his novel, which is heavily based on the night he spent with Celine (Julie Delpy) in Vienna nine years earlier. During the Q&A, Celine quietly enters the shop, watching him from a distance. Their reunion is quiet, tentative, and brimming with unspoken emotion.

Catching Up, Carefully

As they step out into the Parisian afternoon, Jesse and Celine begin a slow walk through the city. They exchange updates on their lives: Jesse is married and has a son; Celine works for an environmental organization and has a boyfriend. Despite the small talk, there’s a noticeable emotional undercurrent—both are cautiously peeling back the layers of time and distance.

Regrets and “What-Ifs”

They eventually confront the elephant in the room: why they didn’t meet six months after their first encounter, as they had promised. Jesse showed up in Vienna, but Celine didn’t—her grandmother had died. They never contacted each other. They reflect on the paths their lives took, wondering if they were shaped by fate, fear, or simply bad timing.

An Emotional Crescendo

As their walk continues—from cafés to boats on the Seine, to a beautiful courtyard—they begin to let down their guards. Jesse subtly reveals his unhappiness in his marriage. Celine, too, expresses her struggles with intimacy and a lingering sense of longing. Their conversations become more emotionally charged, particularly in the back of a car ride, where Celine breaks down, confessing that she’s never truly recovered from losing Jesse.

Final Moments at Celine’s Apartment

Jesse accompanies Celine to her apartment under the guise of just having a few minutes before he needs to catch a flight. She plays a waltz she wrote about their night in Vienna. She then dances playfully to Nina Simone’s Just in Time, mimicking Simone’s iconic mannerisms. Jesse smiles and leans back on her couch.

“You’re gonna miss that plane,” Celine says with a knowing grin.

“I know,” Jesse replies.

Fade to black.

Movie Ending

The ending is deliberately ambiguous yet emotionally satisfying. Jesse chooses not to return to the airport, implying that he will stay with Celine, at least for now. It’s a quiet rebellion against the life he has built that no longer satisfies him. It’s also a poignant comment on the power of love, timing, and second chances. The lack of a definitive resolution mirrors real life—messy, beautiful, and uncertain. Viewers are left to wonder: Is this the beginning of something new, or the continuation of something always meant to be?

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Before Sunset does not include any post-credits scenes. The film ends with Jesse’s decision to stay, and the credits roll without interruption or additional footage.

Type of Movie

Before Sunset is a romantic drama and philosophical character piece. It’s often categorized as part of the independent cinema movement due to its low-budget, dialogue-heavy structure and real-time format. It’s a love story for thinkers, idealists, and realists alike.

Cast

• Ethan Hawke as Jesse
• Julie Delpy as Celine
• (Uncredited) Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine Torrès, and others appear briefly in background roles.

Film Music and Composer

The film’s music is subtle but impactful. Julie Delpy herself wrote and performed three songs for the movie:

• A Waltz for a Night
• An Ocean Apart
• Je t’aime tant

There’s also the unforgettable use of Nina Simone’s Just in Time in the final scene, which captures the mood of rekindled love and missed opportunities.

Filming Locations

The film was shot entirely in Paris, France, using natural light and real locations. Some notable spots:

• Shakespeare and Company bookstore: A real-life literary haven.
• Promenade Plantée: A tree-lined elevated walkway.
• Bois de Vincennes: One of the largest parks in Paris.

These locations aren’t just pretty backdrops—they reflect the characters’ emotional states, evolving from public spaces to private, intimate ones as they grow closer.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (Linklater, Hawke, Delpy)
• Critics’ Choice Movie Award: Nominated for Best Picture and Best Screenplay
• Frequently listed in critics’ year-end and decade-end lists

Behind the Scenes Insights

• The script was mostly co-written by Hawke and Delpy, making it deeply personal and authentic.
• The film was shot in just 15 days.
• Many scenes were done in single takes up to 10 minutes long.
• The real-time structure meant rehearsals were extensive, and actors often had to memorize pages of dialogue.
• Linklater has said the film reflects the emotional and personal growth of all three collaborators.

Inspirations and References

• The original inspiration was a real-life encounter that Richard Linklater had in his youth with a woman he never saw again.
• The style is heavily influenced by European filmmakers like Éric Rohmer and the French New Wave.
• There’s also a quiet homage to Nina Simone, whose music and persona are referenced in the final scene.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no known alternate endings or deleted scenes officially released. The filmmakers were committed to the real-time format and the tight 80-minute window. The ending was always meant to be ambiguous and open to interpretation.

Book Adaptations and Differences

While Before Sunset is not based on a book, Jesse’s character has written a novel within the film that recounts his night with Celine. This “book within a movie” serves as a meta-textual device and emotional entry point, but there is no actual book adaptation.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Jesse and Celine’s first encounter in the bookstore.
• Their emotional car ride, where past hurts resurface.
• Celine’s apartment scene, with her song and Nina Simone impression.

Iconic Quotes

• “You can never replace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful specific details.”
• “Memories are wonderful things, if you don’t have to deal with the past.”
• “You’re gonna miss that plane.” — “I know.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The clock in the bookstore is shown as the film starts and ends, subtly reminding the viewer that time is passing in real time.
• The movie is exactly 80 minutes long—the amount of time Jesse says he has before his plane.
• Jesse’s book in the film is titled This Time, a nod to second chances and the idea of time lost and regained.

Trivia

• The entire Before trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight) is shot nine years apart, both in real time and in the characters’ timeline.
• Julie Delpy is an accomplished singer-songwriter in real life; her songs in the film were taken from her own unreleased music.
• The film was shot on super 16mm, giving it a grainy, warm, intimate texture.

Why Watch?

Watch Before Sunset if you’re interested in:

• Smart, reflective dialogue
• Real-time storytelling
• Honest portrayals of love, regret, and reconnection
• Films that challenge typical romance tropes
  It’s a rare film that invites the audience into a private, evolving conversation and makes you feel like a silent companion on a walk through Paris.

Director’s Other Movies

• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Before Midnight (2013)
• Boyhood (2014)
• Waking Life (2001)
• Dazed and Confused (1993)
• Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Lost in Translation (2003)
• In the Mood for Love (2000)
• Call Me by Your Name (2017)
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
• Once (2007)
• Blue Valentine (2010)
• Anomalisa (2015)