The Hidden Structure of Before Sunset
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- Listen to our podcast episode on Before Sunset: apple.co/2YX6Euk
The “Before Trilogy" is, in my opinion, one of the greatest gifts of modern cinema. Three films, each separated by nine years, that together tell a beautiful and brutal story of what love means as we progress through life. All three films have an unusual form-comprised almost exclusively of lengthy conversations between the two central characters, Jesse and Celine. So in this video we break Before Sunset into five acts and dissect each one to uncover the invisible structure that keeps eighty pages of conversation engaging, we look at how the script constructs and then destroys each character’s facade, and we examine how each moment is tied to the central dramatic question.
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00:00 Intro
01:16 Act 1
04:46 Act 2
06:15 Act 3
09:40 Act 4
12:23 Act 5 
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Which film in the "Before Trilogy" is your favorite? Why?
Before Sunset has been mine, but in revisiting them, I might be starting to lean toward Before Midnight.
Before Sunset 💕
Before sunset, but before midnight is second! Idk why, but before sunrise feels the driest to me
“Before Midnight” is probably my favourite, but the whole trilogy is enjoyable.
@@blehbleh8143 before sunrise feels too magical and unreal compared to the rawness and realistic approaches of the next two films
Lessons from the Screenplay I feel my favourite becomes the one i relate more to. And I as I am now in my mid 30’s, I might agree with you on this. Although I don’t see them as necessarily 3 single films as much as three parts of one story.
The scene in the car is probably my favorite scene in this film. The way Jesse opens up and Celine forces herself not to physically comfort him...it's just amazing.
Yess
thats my favourite scene in the film
It mirrors the first movie when Jessie tries to fix Celine’s hair and then hesitates.
@@michaelsieger9133 I believe there’s also a part in Before Sunset when they’re in the car and he almost reaches to touch her head as well
That hand to the back of the head motion. Destroys me every time.
The moment Celine reaches to embrace him & pulls back always gets me
And Jesse doing the same on the first one
Me too
2nd3rd1st that’s the whole point of the car scene though...to establish that despite 9 years passing these two characters DO still miraculously have romantic and intimate feelings towards one another. You can’t GET more intimate than telling someone you’ve dreamt of them naked and touching them?! It makes perfect sense.
Samee
This is the most romantic movie I've ever seen. So beautiful and simple ❤️
Gotta give Ethan Hawke some serious credit. The dude takes mad liberties with his lines, but never fails to nail them.
Greyleaf one of the best parts of this film is how he twirls his wedding ring when he says “I know.” I’ve always wondered if it was Ethan or if it was Linklater who told him to do that. And when they were at the cafe, he slightly puts his head down and looks at her in a childlike, looking up kind of way when he says “you look beautiful”, and he creates this crooked smile but have his sad eyes, like he’s realizing that he is falling for her all over again.
@@akirebara true I havent noticed those details! but they sure add up to the story so much 💙
@@Annayasha I've seen this movie between 20-30 times so I now notice these things that I didnt before because I was more focused on the dialogue.
Yea it's admirable. Puts him a league above other actors imo
akirebara I saw where it said their was no improvised lines or actions in the movie the director and screenwriter had written and controlled everything to a tee
Before Sunrise is my fave because I'm a helpless romantic.
Ricardo Quintana Vallejo when I was younger and full of romanticism, that was my favorite. Now that I’ve gotten older and have become more cynical and exhausted with online dating, Before Sunset and Before Midnight are tied.
Same.
Céline: Uh baby, you,, are gonna miss that plane...
Jesse: I know...
so many good lines in this movie
One of the greatest endings in cinema history.
The way he touches his ring...
Liliya Leto I wonder if that was in the script. If not, Ethan really gets credit for that move.
That is the most beautiful scene ❤
“Baby you are gonna miss that plane” gets me every time
I know...
Great close
"one of the greatest gifts of modern cinema" huh? That's a pretty strong compliment ... and I agree completely!
Nice choice, Michael.
YES! I watched this movie without any idea what it was. And man, what a gift! This is still the best romantic movie for me bar none.
@@rasaecnai Wait really? So you didn't see Before Sunrise before you saw Before Sunset??
@@vladimirhorowitz Pretty much. I watched it in reverse. Before Sunset was pretty on IMDB at the time. I didnt read anything about it to avoid spoilers.
This movie felt like a dream to me. Such a beautiful film.
Agreed! It puts me in a different mental state.
It kinda was dreamlike,,,with blurry edit
Michael is trying to get us fired uploading during work hours lol
WORTH IT
18 o'clock for me :)
Half past two in the morning right now. No problem for me.
Omg Right? I just finished watching this in my cubicle. I now just opened my screenwriting software to do a bit of writing. Dammit Michael! lol
"Baby you gonna miss that plane" was the most PERFECT ending. Sunrise was idealistic but ended wistfully. After detailing what happened that December, Sunset is realistic but ends on an ambiguously happy note. Midnight... was character-destroying misery.
Midnight seemed forced--or the fight did. They had to make her unreasonable to give them a reason to fight. What reasonable woman who, for better or worse, stole another woman's husband and took him away from the child would not be willing to move near that child so he can have some sort of relationship?
@@tiffanyl4829you write it as she’s some kind of villain when it’s much more complicated than that. Celine’s conflicts with moving had to with her career aspirations and it’s a specially common problem among women having to put aside their whole careers for their families so of course it’s a tough decision.
You know it's a great film when even as someone's breaking it down into parts for analysis you're still thinking about Jesse and Celine and their relationship. I can't watch this analysis without getting distracted by their conversation and the plot. That's how great this movie is. All three of them.
Loved this! One of my favorite film trilogies, although I am secretly hoping for another entry in 2022, and then another in 2031... I want to keep following these lives to the very end ^^
Thanks Tom! I know what you mean...in our podcast episode, the team and I discuss what we'd want from a fourth entry. I'm hoping for something bittersweet but optimistic... :P
Two of my absolute favorite channels on RUclips 🤩🤩
Love the idea of another entry in 2022 'Before twilight'?? 😄
So you know each other, huh. Keep up the good work
Same here. This series has the power to how the messy and fragile nature of love with another person. We need more.
I want to see a prequel trilogy all about the arguing couple that was on the train in the first movie. I already have titles: Before Dawn, Before Dusk, Before Twilight. The last movie syncs right into the beginning of Before Sunrise.
This trilogy is so "real". Some conversations were over the top, but the characters are always believable, sweet, and touching.
by real life standards, some of them were over the top but by movie standards, it’s pretty grounded and realistic
It's a devastating trilogy for me, as I have a weird romance like that in my life. If I had to sum it up in one word: Bittersweet.
Yes, it hits very close to home for so many of us. What's unique in these films is that the couple really are on the same wavelength, whereas in reality this is a very rare event. In other words, the two lovers are working from a single script and not from two radically different ones, which is so often the case, and which leads to so many problems between men and women.
Befor Sunrise is my favorite out of the three but I love each one of them.
It can be hard to choose...how does one not just love all of them?!
It's my favorite in the series too. The first one in comparison felt a little lacking in substance and a bit too idealistic, but then that's what it's like at that age for the characters. The third one was brutal emotionally, and while that's not a criticism, because I'm a romantic idealist, it hurts too much to watch that one. Before Sunset strikes the perfect balance of being honest and real, but also have that sense of hope and romance.
v. Mine too
@@LunatiqueRob that is exactly it! Most of us were idealistic and romantic in our 20s. And the way they developed the characters to fit that all the way to parenthood together and their mid 40s was just amazing. But yeah, Before Midnight breaks my 30 year old heart, so much I can't bare to watch it. Maybe i'll appreciate it better in the future, maybe not. hahahaha
It was mine for the longest time, but Before Sunset became my favourite as I got older, which is something that apparently happens to a lot of people. I wonder if the third one will take it's place eventually. At the moment it's too painfully bleak to take that spot.
The use of Nina Simone's Just in time, in the end, takes the whole scene to another level.
There was a conversation just a few days ago about how onscreen chemistry is so important. The film being discussed was The Tourist, and how two incredibly physically beautiful people could have no onscreen chemistry. And ofc doesn't anyone do screen tests to check for that anymore.
Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke have got it, even in these few clips it just jumps off the screen at you. Gotta go watch the trilogy again, thanks for this great video : )
I've seen Before Sunrise yesterday, and Sunset and Midnight just this morning, all three of them for the first time.
Loved all of them
Before sunset has always been my favorite because it's when I most relate to Celine. I might also switch to before midnight when I'm older
One of my favorite movies of all time. That whole "Honey, you're going to miss that plane" and Ethan Hawke's answer, "I know" should be shown in film schools all over the world.
That ending is comparable to Casablanca's & Citizen Kane's ending.
While touching his 💍
The Before trilogy is my favorite of the romance genre. And I'm not even a fan of romance films.
That's saying some person somewhere in the world likes the Before trilogy, nothing more.
Aki Karvonen That’s still something.
Hollywood would call this type of film an 'adult drama'
Me either but wow the best love movies ever
I’m not into sappy romance, however the ‘Before’ movies works for me because they feel natural and “quiet”.
I'VE NEVER CLICKED ON A VIDEO SO FAST! Your channel is so cool and I love your content! :)
Thanks Claire! :)
same!
true! and i never clicked a comment so fast
An excellent analysis of an excellent movie. I love "Sunrise" and "Sunset" so much so that I don't dare watch "Midnight," which has been sitting in my video cabinet for years and which I'm afraid will be devastating. Part of the appeal for me is that I, and obviously many people besides me, have been in situations very comparable to those in these movies, but things never quite panned out this way, presumably because one or another of us missed our cues or fumbled our dialogue. The films provide the most delicious sort of wish fulfillment. What if I had done this or that slightly differently? What if I had asked the perfect question, or given the perfect answer? For this reason (along with the excellent actors, scripts, and production values) the films are timeless.
Oh man, Midnight is BEYOND devastating yes, but for me, it elevates the previous films to another level. I think it's outstanding how these movies are so tethered to the ages of the actors and the moment in time they were portrayed. Indeed, Before Midnight will floor you but also it will be the most human you'll ever see these characters be and that's saying A LOT.
@@zeroomens9438
Thanks, now I definitely will check it out the next time I watch the other two, ideally on three consecutive evenings!
@@alannothnagle Did you ever watch it?
@@MiLSyeah Midnight? No, not yet.
@@alannothnagle How about now? Might as well just watch it. I personally liked Sunrise and Sunset more, but Midnight is great in its own way.
I clicked on this FAST. I always feel the Before movies don’t get their proper due and have always wanted an examination of this, especially with Sunset being my favorite of the three
I adore Before Sunset. It's the ultimate character driven narrative, which is my favorite type of storytelling. Thank you for making this video!
It is so hard to choose which since each is so glorious. If I had to choose, I would choose before sunset. The conversations are more profound and the last scene where Julie utters those immortal words “baby you are going to miss that plane” after singing the beautiful waltz is brilliant and unforgettable
Act 5 in this movie never fails to make me cry and hurt for them everytime I watch.
I finally got to watch all three parts this year. I only watched the first film a long time ago, I lobed it, and I kinda wanted to know what happened next, but was satisfied with not knowing.. Somehow I wished I didn't find out, because the romantic fantasy was undeniably crushed by the two sequels. So a part of me thinks the trilogy was unnecessary, that the story should've been left at their separation.Yet another part of me thinks it was a genuis decision.. But either way, I love the films. I love the dream like atmosphere of the first one, the slap back to reality that was second one, and the inevitable soul crushing realism of the last one. This trilogy is probably the only truly realist depiction of a modern love story that has the closest thong to what could be a "happy ending" far away from all the clichés and false expectations.
Bored Nerd I saw the last 1st the first 2nd and middle last great classic movies
Ok, this statement of The Before Trilogy being one of the greatest gifts to modern cinema has officially made this channel my favorite for analysis of all kinds! I had my own Before Sunrise night and hope to have a Before Sunset as well.
This film is the most swooningly romantic and intelligent film, bar none. Their walking trajectory has a brilliant musicality. It’s one of my top three films ever. Masterpiece.
modern indie *cinema* at it's finest
True! Masculin Féminin is a masterpiece btw!
Always been a fan of Ethan Hawke he's one of the most Versatile actors i've watched.
Cawale Drezzy he's a all time great
Happy Anniversary to Before Sunset!!! This year marks 20 yrs. since we all "missed that plane..."😉
I think that one point of the film is that the structure lays all in the conversation of the characters, while we are used to the structure laying predominantly in the actions of the characters
whow good point!
Before Sunrise is my favorite... such a beautiful film. Linklater, even at a young age, proved he was a remarkable talent
I love the before series because of how naturalistic, quiet and seemingly spontaneous it is.
I feel like you literally grow with the characters over the years and I believe a ‘second half of life’ has to be made in an ‘after’ series. Dealing with change and consequences leading up to Jess and Celine’s twilight years.
‘After dawn’
‘After dusk’
‘Twilight’
I’ve always wondered why I like the ‘Before Trilogy’ so much. Even now, I’ve seen it when I was around 17/18, I think this trilogy is one of my favorites. While the romance/chemistry definitely can be felt and makes the movie great already great, this movie was more than just a romance. More than just a romance between same-age characters. I was fascinated by the ‘dramatic question’, the way this movie was ‘structured’ and why one conversation is so interesting. This video essay gave me answers (and terms) towards my appreciation for the ‘Before Trilogy’.
Oh my, thank you for analyzing Before Sunset. This film has been my favorite out of the trilogy because there’s this beautiful quality about reconnecting with lost love & who you used to be that makes it so poignant.
However, Before Midnight has that painful fight scene that I must say is the best scene in the trilogy. It’s full of heartbreaks, resentment, & dread that you just feel suffocated watching.
Sir, you're gonna put me out of a job of teaching screenwriting in NYC if you don't quite making such wonderful, insightful and smart videos! I beg you, please: consider your fellow screenwriting educating brethren and try to make something less awesome next time.
(On the flip side, it gives me supreme pleasure to point out to students that, see, I'm not the only one saying films like the BEFORE trilogy are actually very well structured.)
It's not just this channel; Online resources and the democratization of filmmaking technology will put you out of a job eventually. Film school is a thing of the past.
Don't all stories naturally have a structure?
@@RottenDoctorGonzo No. Some are just a mish-mash of moments that by themselves might be interesting but strewn together without a focus, purpose, meaning, etc. are just a collection of things that lack cohesion.
I first saw the trilogy when I was an year older than Jesse's age during the first film. Loved them all but related the most to Sunrise. Now I'm almost his age during Sunset and I'm sure it will be an emotional bomb if I watch it today. The Before Trilogy movies are the only movies with realistic love story I've ever seen.
I think it's time to rewatch one of the best trilogies of all time....
Out of the Before Trilogy, Before Sunset is my favourite. Although they left you with a different feeling. Such a nice film!
This trilogy is brilliant, and there is also something special watching the films at different times in your life. Thank you for this video!
I think what this video (and your Adaptation short film) proves is that tone and feel matter much, much more than structure. We think of Before Sunset as a "structure rule breaking" film because we remember how we feel more than the Narrative.
I was reading a Screenplay recently for a film that hasn't been made yet, and something interesting happened. I was enjoying it a lot and then suddenly I realised that the crisis moment was coming up and when it came, I predicted that there would be a moment where someone gives an inspirational speech and the protagonist gears up to carry on, and it came. And suddenly, I didn't care. It was as if when the Structure became visible, the magic died.
This essay provides an important lesson for screenwriters and filmmakers. That the feel of a film trumps everything else, and the best films are the ones that create their feel so well that you can't see how they're constructed.
This is a film school worthy video essay. Thank you Michael.
When they finally hug, I melted.
ı cant believe this. I was just watching this film and you've uploaded this video....
! What awesome timing :)
@@LessonsfromtheScreenplay If you make a video about birdman movie also, that would be really amazing dude :)
This film “Before Sunset” always reminds me of “The Apartment”. Every dialogues in both film are so on point how those characters feels point to point. And the very last scene where core characters accept how the things are just so special to look at. Appreciate great episode. Can’t wait to check next one.
I’ve heard about both Before Sunrise and Before Sunset for years. After Before Midnight came out, the Brattle Theatre had a special marathon session where all three films were played and it was the first time I had seen any of them. I think that was the best way to see it. (And unbeknownst to all of us, it was a dress rehearsal to Boyhood.)
For a set of films that was never intended to be (Sunrise was always meant as a self-contained story), they work well beautifully. There’s even a nice full circle as Jesse and Celine met in part because Celine wanted to get away from a bickering couple (in German) and when you get to Midnight, Jesse and Celine are themselves a bickering couple. It is all due to Rick, Julie and Ethan working together to create the best moments that feel real and genuine and palpable. So yes, it is the greatest gift to cinema =]
I don't think there is a series of moves as heartwarming, touching and ultimately devastating as the Before trilogy. Bless Richard Linklater, July Delpy and Ethan Hawke for making such a masterpiece on life itself.
I just watched before sunset without even knowing that Its a trilogy. And the thing is I didn't even at some point felt that I'm missing something out while watching the movie because their chemistry, their way of talking, the subtle hints to the past just makes it so complete even as a stand alone. Now I come to realize, I really just watched two people have a conversation about some events that I was not familiar with ,yet at no point I found myself losing interest in what they are taking about. Great dialogue writing....it just flows perfectly. Loved it a lot. On my way to watch the first one
Srsly, never clicked on anything so fast. In fact, you have a way of releasing videos on all my favourite films. Your channel is an important part of my life now, thank you so much for everything you're doing.
After searching "analysis of before sunrise trilogy" millions of times, I have finally found the answer. Thank you for analysing this brilliant cinema.
This is so educational! I see things differently and much more accentuated, like when you put on glasses and never knew you needed them. Wow! Thanks for your hard work...
Being that I'm the same age as the characters- this trilogy was maturing with me. When the first one came out I found it to be the romantic ideal. I was touting it as the most glorious vision of love I'd ever seen. When I heard Sunset was being released I simply couldn't believe it. And when it turned out to be the masterpiece it is... incredible! Theeen when Midnight came out when I was feeling many of the same trials of age and loss it was like a hammer blow of reality. I love and respect the finale but I must say I want to watch Sunset over and over. Sunrise is perfect in it's own right- but sunset has the added benefit of baggage to overcome. It adds necessary weight to the story that makes it far more engaging. Thank you Criterion for the fantastic release I was begging for for years!
You did something I thought was impossible: you made me love this trilogy even more. Thank you so much! This video made my day.
Less than 90 minutes but quite possibly my favorite film. "Oh baby....you are gonna miss that plane."
ME: spends an hour researching Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
LFTS: The Hidden Structure Of Before Sunset.
Timing!
The ending of this movie introduced me to Nina Simone, and now I listen to her all the time.
Before Sunset is my favorite among the three. It taught me so much about life. The wisdom of the characters are pure that after watching the movie, I just want to follow my passion, and not just the convenient path I’ve made for myself. Jesse and Celine catching up on what they did, what are their jobs after that meet up in Vienna made me think and realize things. They grew sooo much after that meet up in Vienna! Aaahhhhh!!!!!!! 💓
It always amazed me how simple these stories were, yet so relatable. Just a real-life real-time conversation of lovers. There is a russian film by Aleksei Uchitel "the walk" (2003) (прогулка/progulka), check it out - it is made in same style with the similar structure, it just struck me after your video.
I am honestly not really a fan of Richard Linklater, but with this trilogy and Boyhood, him and my man Ethan Hawke made movies that are both entertaining and heartwarming, while writing cinematic history in the process
HAL 9000 so how are you not a fan of Linklater if you enjoy both his masterpieces
@@Thesasquatchsad i don't enjoy the rest
Saw this trilogy recently. Wow, it had such an impact on me. Linklater beautifully rips deep into the human soul and shows us the truth of life in 3 different time periods
I’m sooo glad your movie analysis are back!
This was absolutely beautiful, Michael. Thank you!
This is my favorite one of the three. The sense of urgency at the end is incredible.
This is my favorite movie of all time and I adore the whole series.
You are a master in analyzing films . Love you're channel!
Great piece. Thank you.
So glad this appeared on recommend. Beautiful movies, and a very neat review. Subscribed immediately!
You illuminated SO MUCH of this movie for me, and I already enjoyed these movies. PLEASE do the other two!!!
I actually missed these videos! Thank you, LFTS !
This was just outstanding Michael. Thanks for this
The number of times I've seen Sunset is deep in double digits, Sunrise around 6 times and Midnight just 2. Now after seeing them all in sequence for the first time, I'm sure they only truly work when seen as a whole. And at every point in life I saw them, I related to them in different ways. We look at them aging together, and we observe ourselves aging with them.
I had never heard of this trilogy before a few years ago when my taste in cinema matured a bit. These movies have a serious following among select film buffs. Ethan Hawke has always been one of my favorite actors.
I remember recommending this series to you do this essay a while back! So keen. I was just gifted to special edition box set too, very good timing
Great video, what an analysis.
Great work man.
Your channel is excellent. It makes me rewatch a lot of films I have admired in the past and appreciate the craftsmanship in their structure and writing. Thank you!!
I love this, I hadn’t been able to put my finger on how this film is structured but you did it perfectly! Thank you Michael!
This is pure gold, thanks 👌
Love your analysis of one of my favorite films.
Nicely explained. Well-done!
"Before" is one of my favorite trilogies and Before Sunset is my favorite film in the series. So happy you did a video on it!
Thanks for such a compelling video delving into one of my personal favorite films! ‘Before Sunrise’ is such a classic, but it’s shadowed, also equally beautiful, sequel holds so much truth to the human condition it brings many tears to many eyes.
Seeing your video made me remind how much I love this movie. Thank you!
Excellent Video Michael! Never thought anyone would make me appreciate this film more than I do already - but you have
Wow this was good. I hope you did the other two. I’ll look now.
This is so well explained. Thank you!
Listening to podcast, kind of hurts when I watched them in real time and had to wait the 9 years to find out if Celine and Jesse met and then another 9 years to find out what happened after he missed his flight. Ugh! These are some of my favorite movies ever. They meant so much to me and I do not know about structure or story. I just connected emotionally and on a personal level. Thank you for the video.
One of my all time favorite movies being covered by one of my favorite channels. Bless 🙏🏻
Easily one of the best film trilogies ever (there's still chance they make a 4th one) and a prime example of how to pull off dialogue properly.
The first time I saw Before Sunset I was like 25-26 years old, and even at that fairly young age, that scene in the cab hit me like a ton of bricks; now at age 40, it still resonates with my pretty much the same way. That's masterful filmmaking there.
Thank you, I needed this.
My favorite film trilogy of all time! Thank you for the lovely video, Michael
Oh film school Michael.... How much you've learned since then. For that I'm thankful for these videos. Another thoughtful video from you and your team.
Thank you for doing this one, Mike.
The "Before..." films have always had a special place in my heart - and I haven't re-watched them anywhere NEAR enough (I was late to the party - only watching the first two shortly before "Midnight" came out). But I know they'll stay with me forever.
Also, glad to find out you have a podcast - that's an instant "Add" for me!
Thanks again and keep up the amazing work 😉👍
I ADORE BEFORE MIDNIGHT. Love these two together.
This video blew me away. Talks about how much I need to learn about cinema. I remember loving these films for its unique structure, and now watching this now I know more about the brilliance of the films. Great Job!
I absolutely love this film, what a brilliant video! Thank you for this.
What a fantastic break down. I love these films!
yesss. love your videos so much.