Nine years after the conclusion of Before Sunset, Jesse (Hawke) and Céline (Delpy) are a couple and parents to twin girls conceived when they got together for the second time. Jesse is also struggling to maintain his relationship with his teenage son, Hank, who lives in Chicago with Jesse’s ex-wife and who, after spending the summer with Jesse and Céline on the Greek Peloponnese peninsula, is being dropped off at the airport to fly home. Jesse has continued to find success as a novelist, while Céline is at a career crossroads, considering a job in the government.
After dropping off Hank at the airport, the couple discuss their worries about Hank having a healthy childhood and Céline deciding what to do with her career, before returning to the house of their Greek friend, Patrick. Over dinner they discuss ideas about love and life, and the other people staying with them buy Jesse and Céline a hotel room for that night so they can have some time alone. While walking to the hotel, the couple reminisce about how they met and how their lives have changed since then. When they arrive at the hotel, however, the two have a vicious argument, as both of them pour out their fears about a present and future together.
Céline eventually storms out of the hotel room, telling Jesse she doesn’t think she loves him anymore before sitting in the hotel’s outdoor restaurant alone. Jesse joins her and playfully tries to explain to her how things can be different from tonight. Céline initially finds his attempts childish, saying that their fantasies will never match the imperfect reality their relationship constantly goes through. Jesse then proclaims his love to her, saying that he loves her unconditionally and is not sure what else she could want from a relationship. Céline suddenly resumes Jesse’s joke and the two seem to reconcile.
Before Midnight is an American romantic drama film, the third in a trilogy featuring two characters, following Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004). It was directed by Richard Linklater and stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Co-written by Linklater, Hawke and Delpy, the film picks up the story nine years after the events of Before Sunset; Jesse (Hawke) and Céline (Delpy) spend a summer vacation together in Greece.
Following a limited opening in May, the film was released wide in June 2013 and grossed over $20 million worldwide. As with the previous films, Before Midnight received widespread acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Some elements were drawn from the screenplay for the first film.
Before Midnight (2013)
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Prior, Charlotte Prior, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Tety Kalafati
Screenplay by: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Kim Krizan
Cinematography by: Christos Voudouris
Film Editing by: Sandra Adair
Costume Design by: Vasileia Rozana
Music by: Graham Reynolds
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content / nudity and language.
Studio: Sony Pictrues Classics
Release Date: May 24, 2013
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