Richard Linklater/USA/1995+04; R4
Warner Bros, NZ$14.95/$24.95 | Reviewed by Kim Lesch

THE remarkable thing about Before Sunrise and Before Sunset is their simplicity – two characters in conversation, the first relying slightly more on their interactions with others, the second purely dependent on the creativity of language between two people with a past.

From start to finish we find ourselves instantly ignited by Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine's (Julie Delpy) intelligent yet whimsical banter. The impeccable acting of the two makes the whole damn thing look entirely too easy. The writing in the first was (yeah, I'm gonna say it) honest, interesting, and spoke to an entire generation of Generation X-ers. However, the second further explored the merits of love in the backdrop of reality, now that both characters have histories of their own.

I clearly remember watching the first, Before Sunrise, at a clueless thirteen, not quite understanding why women would be keen to give Ethan Hawke a second look; upon a recent viewing, nine years later, I can fully report that my perspective on this subject has done a 180. What terrific writing and acting to go into a character! Insecure, cynical, and hardened up by a fresh break up yet not overdone or too heavy. Delpy responds in kind: Celine is softer, unfocused, naively hopeful yet not dramatised or caricaterised. Both are fascinating to watch; it's a real delight to simply be able to sit in on their conversations, past and present. A romance that doesn't downtalk, it will probably be the most palatable romance for most men under the age of forty. Pick up both at the same time and watch them back to back – you'll be warmed by two very fine films.


DVD FEATURES: None to speak of for Before Sunrise, beyond multiple language capabilities and trailers for both films. Before Sunset has a doco-like short with brief interviews with Richard Linklater (the director), Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, and producer Anne Walker-McBay concerning the resurrection of the characters and how Hawke and Delpy were involved in the writing of the script. It also contains some footage of the filming and some interesting comments on the filming process itself in terms of time and lighting constraints. The DVD features the trailer and multiple language settings.