Before Sunset (2004)

95% of critics liked it
(159 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(61,591 ratings)

Richard Linklater directs the romantic drama Before Sunset, a sequel to Before Sunrise (1995). Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) were strangers who spent a loquacious night together in Vienna. Nine years later, Jesse has written a book about the encounter. During his accelerated European… More Richard Linklater directs the romantic drama Before Sunset, a sequel to Before Sunrise (1995). Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) were strangers who spent a loquacious night together in Vienna. Nine years later, Jesse has written a book about the encounter. During his accelerated European book tour, he reunites with Celine in Paris. Before Jesse's flight home, he joins Celine for a picturesque walk around Paris peppered with intimate conversation: at first, about the minutiae of their day-to-day lives and their relationships, and then about their lingering feelings for one another. Before Sunset was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Richard Linklater
Written By: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 2, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Nov 9, 2004
Studio: Warner Independent Pictures

Critic Reviews

David Denby, New Yorker
Before Sunrise and Before Sunset are a rare case of two movies that rightfully demand yet another sequel.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
A richer experience than the original.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Mr. Linklater and his two creative leads have managed a miraculous transformation of the characters from once-callow lovers into grown-ups teetering on the edge of eternity.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
I found myself hoping that Linklater, Hawke and Delpy would revisit these characters in another 10 years. And perhaps again in 20 years.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The chemistry between Jesse and Celine --- and Hawke and Delpy and, for that matter, Linklater --- is as immediate as it is appealing.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Allows you to watch two deeply engaged and engaging performers moving verbally through delicately negotiated layers of delight, apprehension, desire and surrender.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Charming romance for older teens and adults only.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
As a romance streaked with regrets, obligations and fears, "Sunset" builds to a wistful, perfect conclusion - a fadeout infused with the idea that a memory's never finished as long as you're alive and one of the loveliest last-line exchanges of all time.
Dan Jardine, Cinemania
the film takes a miraculous healing turn at the end, and the characters rise above their ruefulness, and use it as a springboard into hope
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A gemlike minimalist triumph -- deeper and more provocative than its predecessor.
Jordan Hiller, Bangitout.com
However, between Delpy, Hawke, and Linklater, a script was born and once again the couple meets, this time in Paris, this time for far fewer hours (and in real time).
Uri Lessing, www.kcactive.com
The dialogue captivates without ever feeling forced or cinematic...

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Paulo G

A great sequel that lives up to the expectations of the first. Before Sunset, like the first, is both heartfelt and sweet, but what makes this different is its more mature take on love, mainly on choices pertaining to it, love lost and found. Delphy and Hawke also matures along with… More
A great sequel that lives up to the expectations of the first. Before Sunset, like the first, is both heartfelt and sweet, but what makes this different is its more mature take on love, mainly on choices pertaining to it, love lost and found. Delphy and Hawke also matures along with the movie but still retaining the same old great chemistry of the first which made this movie work in the first place.
paul o

I saw this before Before Sunrise and that may have changed my perspective on this film. I was completely unknown about the lover's previous relationship but in the end, a lot is shown about the beautiful bond between these two lovers. It shows off Paris while giving us a nice… More
I saw this before Before Sunrise and that may have changed my perspective on this film. I was completely unknown about the lover's previous relationship but in the end, a lot is shown about the beautiful bond between these two lovers. It shows off Paris while giving us a nice story on the side. Julie Delpy shines and helps bring out Ethan Hawke's talents. Its a great watch and another film to remember Richard Linklater by.
Steven C

"Before Sunset" is everything I want from a sequel. Here is a magnificent, real time, sequel to one of the independent masterpieces of the 1990s. The film is tinged with a sweet melancholy and explores the nature of memory and the lasting effects of connection. Transcendent… More
"Before Sunset" is everything I want from a sequel. Here is a magnificent, real time, sequel to one of the independent masterpieces of the 1990s. The film is tinged with a sweet melancholy and explores the nature of memory and the lasting effects of connection. Transcendent and deeply moving, "Before Sunset" was the finest film of 2004.
Lorenzo v

"Memory is a wonderful thing if you don't have to deal with the past." It's nine years after Jesse and Celine first met; now, they encounter one another on the French leg of Jesse's book tour. <center>"Memory is a wonderful thing if you don't have to deal with the past." It's nine years after Jesse and Celine first met; now, they encounter one another on the French leg of Jesse's book tour. <center>REVIEW</center> Filmmaker Richard Linklater reunites with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in this follow-up to their romantic comedy/drama 'Before Sunrise' nine years later where the one-night standers are inevitably reunited when Hawke is in France for a book-reading of a thinly-veiled account of their wonderful day and night together. Picking up almost immediately from their last encounter the two chatty and intelligently pleasant lovers try to rekindle a lost flame but more importantly self-discover just where they are in life with some very funny and poignant almost improvised dialogue (the three artists collaborated on the script and storytelling at hand) which runs breezily thanks in large part to the exquisitely beautiful French locations in an effortless non-stop walk between the two (Lee Daniel's documentary-like cinematography gets the job done). Once again love triumphs for even the most cynical valentine wannabes.
Chris W

Nine years after they met and bonded over the course of a night in Vienna, an American guy named Jesse and a French woman named Celine meet up once again by chance in Paris and spend an afternoon trying to reconnect and pick up where they left off. This sequel to the wonderful and… More
Nine years after they met and bonded over the course of a night in Vienna, an American guy named Jesse and a French woman named Celine meet up once again by chance in Paris and spend an afternoon trying to reconnect and pick up where they left off. This sequel to the wonderful and brilliant Before Sunrise is not quite the masterpiece like its predecessor is, but this still worthy of getting a letter grade of "A". Where the first film was a romantic and heartfelt story that proved to Generation X-ers that it was possible to fall in love in a non-ironic way, this one is a breezy 80 real-time examination of regret, remorse, and the hope of regaining what's been lost. It's also less of an examination of things on gendered lines, and more of a broad generational statement about how things are once people mature and enter their 30s. Told through a series of long takes and tracking shots (but not exclusively), this story is full of heart, wisdom, and pain, but not once does it come across as false, pandering, or fantastical. It's just as real and touching as the first film, although, as to be expected, the romanticness of things is restrained. These charactrs have mostly moved on and matured, although Jesse seems to have taken longer to do so. Celine on the other hand, is just about as miserable and unsatisfied, but is carrying a lot more neuroses than before. The way I'm writing might make it sound like this movie is really a bummer, and it is to an extent, but not really. Honestly, it's kind of hard for me to explain it. Let's just say that it's not all sugar coated, but it's not all gloom and doom either. The performances are once again excellent, if not maybe just a tad better than before. The camera work is nice, the writing is sharp, and the ending is the best possible conclusion that there could be given the nature of the situation and characters. One could probably see this without having seen the first one and probably get it, but I wouldn't recomend that. See Before Sunrise, then see this one. Doing so will take a bit more time, but it is totally worth it and it makes this one even better. So yeah, I recommend this one, but take the above advice first.
Sajin P

I loved it even better than 'Before Sunset'. The way Jesse & Celine have evolved shows how life take its toll in the space of 10 years.
Conner R

It's just as good as the original because it takes everything that I loved about the characters and just took it further. It's really interesting to see the same people pick up after almost 10 years apart and having it seem like they never were apart. Ethan Hawke especially… More
It's just as good as the original because it takes everything that I loved about the characters and just took it further. It's really interesting to see the same people pick up after almost 10 years apart and having it seem like they never were apart. Ethan Hawke especially gives such an amazing performance, debatably even better than the original. Julie Delpy is great too and I think part of her character was meant to be anti-romantic. What really puts this movie into the category of unforgettable though is about the last twenty minutes, it's just unlike any other love story ever told and in many ways one of the most emotional.
Dan S

An effectively made, well-acted sequel to the extremely romantic "Before Sunrise" that somehow matches the original in both emotional impact and intense discussions. Both of these films are something special and risky, both hovering around the 80-85 minute mark where… More
An effectively made, well-acted sequel to the extremely romantic "Before Sunrise" that somehow matches the original in both emotional impact and intense discussions. Both of these films are something special and risky, both hovering around the 80-85 minute mark where you're basically just watching two people talk about themselves and their relationships. What makes this film special is its ability to look at the past and have both of its characters honestly express their inmost desires to be with one another, but they know too much time has elapsed and because of this both of them have become a victim to it. There is no kissing, making out, sex - nothing. Just pure, unadulterated, authentic dialogue that makes you wish more mainstream romantic films would take notes from this. Both of these characters feel like real people, and as a result of this, we come to love both of them, and like them, cherish the time we spend with each other.
Anthony L

Before Sunrise gathered a huge global fan-base on its realise without becoming mainstream. It was a beautiful little indie that passed most people by, so you felt lucky to have caught it. I think the announcement of a sequel was a bit of a surprise to most people, I certainly had my… More
Before Sunrise gathered a huge global fan-base on its realise without becoming mainstream. It was a beautiful little indie that passed most people by, so you felt lucky to have caught it. I think the announcement of a sequel was a bit of a surprise to most people, I certainly had my concerns, but thankfully, Linklater, Hawke and Delpy came up trumps. It's basically a continuation of the first film, albeit 9 years later. I challenge any cynic not to applaud the way this film handles, not just the question of love, but also how your perceptions of love change through time. Another beautiful film but I think it can be left alone now, there is no need for a third, we'll just use our imaginations as to what happens next.
Alice S

Liked it a little more than its prequel because the dialogue is less philosophical what-ifs and more grounded in past and present. I nearly *ahem* teared up at Celine's song but wish the film faded out on Jesse's "I know" rather than on Celine dancing.
E.J. B

Adds another wonderful chapter to an already wonderful story.
Kalel J

Tracking shot after tracking shot...line of dialogue after line of dialogue, Before Sunset's real-time expose' of a conversation is enlightening through its simplicity, and captivating through its meandering. While the film tends to only heighten the problems of the first… More
Tracking shot after tracking shot...line of dialogue after line of dialogue, Before Sunset's real-time expose' of a conversation is enlightening through its simplicity, and captivating through its meandering. While the film tends to only heighten the problems of the first film, it somehow comes off the better picture for it. The intertwining of themes and ideas from the first film are transplanted beautifully in this as we follow the reality of cynicism vs. hope in love-lost lives; characters who reminisce and dream. The film has its many moments of truth in its many moments of talking, but it is ultimately the chemistry on and off the screen combined with the molding of the prior films breadcrumbs to blend this world smoothly that excels the film farther ahead. Be ready for the conclusion - its a subtly moving and expertly conceived piece of cutting of a film; a true test of the films overlaying concept.
Elvira B

I was pretty disappointed by Before Sunset. I guess I just loved Before Sunrise too much. Nine years ago, Jesse and Celine met in Vienna, fell in love, had to leave, and promised to meet there again in 6 months or so. We never got to find out what happened. Before Sunset… More
I was pretty disappointed by Before Sunset. I guess I just loved Before Sunrise too much. Nine years ago, Jesse and Celine met in Vienna, fell in love, had to leave, and promised to meet there again in 6 months or so. We never got to find out what happened. Before Sunset shouldn't have happened. The magic of Before Sunrise just vanishes. But if it had to, I could bet the writers could have come up with a better, more original way for the reunion to happen. So Jesse is in Paris promoting a book he wrote about that night in Vienna, and Celine just happens to step in. They begin to walk and talk about their lives so far. The conversations Jesse and Celine had in Before Sunrise were inventive, funny, innocent, complex, foolish, ranging from the very deep to the very superficial. Here, the characters don't have the same spark. They don't shy away from each other any more, which makes their confessions less endearing. All they seem to be able to address is their sex life or lack thereof. I was a little bored after a while. I was trying desperately to like it. Some lines, certain moments were very cute, but others were just repetitive, or overly cheesy, or just yeah, boring. No scenes in which I actually saw much of Paris. Paris is such a beautiful, interesting city, much more than Vienna. I wonder why the locations weren't very well chosen. They chose a rather romantic side of Paris, but they didn't show it off. All in all, it's an interesting watch after Before Sunrise. Just so you can see what happens afterwards. But I prefer to stick to my own version. spoiler --> The one thing I'm giving it three stars for, though, is that it's heartbreaking when, at a given point, Jesse states how different, how unbelievably different his life might have been if they had met in Viena again. It's such a beautiful, and melancholy realization. I liked that. It was my one relief.
Drew S

These movies are stunning beyond belief. Where Before Sunrise was a charming, playful, heady romance, Before Sunset is something darker. There may be hope in Jesse and Celine's romance but it is awfully hard to find. And we watch them plumb the depths of their emotions, mostly… More
These movies are stunning beyond belief. Where Before Sunrise was a charming, playful, heady romance, Before Sunset is something darker. There may be hope in Jesse and Celine's romance but it is awfully hard to find. And we watch them plumb the depths of their emotions, mostly negative, to discover that the love that seemed imminent in the first movie seems nearly unreachable now. But it's Before Sunset's greatest strength that it keeps you holding out for that love, against all odds, just because these are two people who you want to imagine together forever. They are some of the most endearing, fully-realized characters to ever be seen in cinema; the measly 80 minutes you spend with them are not even close to enough. This is the kind of movie you make up endings for because the final moments burn in your mind. You owe it to yourself to watch this and its prequel. So, so beautiful.
Keysha H

It's talky like the first one. But this sequal is fantastic. Just the ending we all hoped for from Before Sunrise.
Rachel F

I loved this film. It has one of the most unique storylines in that all the characters really do is walk and talk. It's great.
Jennifer X

Oh gosh, it's so hard to get all my thoughts into something coherent. Um, well, this was brilliant. We're living in real time, and every second these characters spend together counts. They've grown up and matured, become more jaded with things like love and life, but… More
Oh gosh, it's so hard to get all my thoughts into something coherent. Um, well, this was brilliant. We're living in real time, and every second these characters spend together counts. They've grown up and matured, become more jaded with things like love and life, but the connection between them is still as strong as ever before. What I love about these two films is that we've only known these characters for as long as they have. We've listened to their conversations like they were our known, we know about their insecurities, and their hopes and dreams, but still both characters remain as elusive as they are to each other. But we want them to be together, and surely as they do. What's beautiful about this movie is not what is said, but what is left unsaid. We feel the palpable pain each has gone through these nine years even though they try not to talk about it. Gone is the passionate heart-pouring when they were 20, only to be superseded by the trite adult-talk about "how have you been doing" and so on. It was so short, and I wanted more. It was complete, but not really.
Pierluigi P

A nostalgic and heartfelt stroll with these now mature lovers. amazing script, chemistry and setting. It may sound like blasphemy but I think this little marvel can be compared with some of the most romantic and tender gems like Brief encounter or Casablanca. more sad and bitter than… More
A nostalgic and heartfelt stroll with these now mature lovers. amazing script, chemistry and setting. It may sound like blasphemy but I think this little marvel can be compared with some of the most romantic and tender gems like Brief encounter or Casablanca. more sad and bitter than the first one, It closed a chapter I'll never forget.
Aliyanto L

Short but refreshing & creative!
Dean M

Great relationship drama with the two former lovers reunite after 9 years for a day. It has a great memory of actors Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and director Richard Linklater returned together in this sequel.