Back in 1989, filmmaker Richard Linklater—one of the biggest contemporary champions of American indie cinema—met a woman named Amy Lehrhaupt in a toy shop in Philadelphia. They walked around the city and spent an unforgettable night together, and although they tried to keep their relationship alive after they had to part ways, distance caused them to drift apart and their romance to fade. Linklater made Before Sunrise, a drama about two young travelers who meet on a train and decide to spend one night together in Vienna, in commemoration of the remarkable night he had spent with Lehrhaupt, thus sparking the birth of the Before Trilogy. For years, Linklater hoped that Lehrhaupt would see his movies and find some way to contact him. Finally, in 2010, a friend of hers found a way to contact Linklater and let him know that Amy had died in a motorcycle accident in 1994, months before filming on Before Sunrise even began. This profoundly sad backstory serves as the background of one of the most poignant and bittersweet romance movie trilogies ever.
The Before movies form one of the most ambitious trilogies of all time. No strangers to unusually long production times, Linklater, star-writer Ethan Hawke, and star-writer Julie Delpy made these films with nine years of separation between each one, with each chapter dealing with a different thematic and philosophical dimension of romantic love. Ethan Hawke himself once put it best: Before Sunrise is about what should be, Before Sunset is about what could have been, and <em>Before Midnight </em>is about what is. Each movie is a masterpiece of the genre, and none of them would work without the others. It is, in every sense of the term, an absolutely perfect trilogy comprised of three absolutely perfect romance dramas—but there is one in particular that’s nothing short of untouchable. There isn’t a single installment in this trilogy that isn’t a beautiful work of art and an undeniable must-see (even for those who don’t typically love romance films), but the best film in the series is on a tier of its own. Many people would perhaps point to it as the single greatest romantic movie ever made, and frankly, it would be hard to argue against them.
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‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)
Saying that Before Sunrise is the weakest movie of the Before Trilogy is like saying that bronze is the worst Olympic medal. It’s technically true, but it’s still an absolutely legendary achievement that many people can only ever dream of imitating. It is far and away one of the greatest romantic movies ever made, a beautiful coming-of-age that understands the feeling of young love so flawlessly that it hurts. It’s like an idyllic fairy tale set in ’90s Vienna, an unashamedly romantic (and even a little bit idealized) celebration of love, youth, art, hope, and the beautiful promises of a future still unclear. It should be considered essential viewing for all people in their late teens and early 20s, regardless of whether they’re movie fans or not, and if they are movie fans, even more so. What’s not to love about this borderline faultless gem? Hawke and Delpy, for one, are absolute dynamite together, sharing some of the strongest chemistry of any on-screen duo in the history of romance cinema. Vienna itself feels like a tritagonist in their story, its ravishingly beautiful backdrops and atmospheres serving as the ideal setting for such an unabashedly romantic film. Great music, great camerawork, and exceptional writing are but a few of the reasons why Before Sunrise is a delight.
So, what could possibly be justification enough to say that this is the weakest installment in the trilogy? All of it stems from a single fact: it’s the easiest chapter in the series to grow out of. Yes, it’s still one of the best romantic movies ever made, but the distinctly ’90s-y tone, the apparent lack of consequences, and its reliance on romantic idealism all make it the least timeless of all Before movies. These characteristics are all by design, of course, but it’s undeniable that they make it somewhat easy to look back at Before Sunrise once you’re older and more mature and find it all a little saccharine, perhaps even naive. Since it all feels so intentional, however, it feels hard to hold it against the movie too much. Growing up and away from the swoony tone of this landmark of ’90s Hollywood indie cinema is a crucial part of the experience, and if anything, it lends the film even more rewatchability value. No matter how old, cold, and disgruntled the years have made you, it’s impossible to watch Before Sunrise and not find it irresistibly beautiful, exquisitely ephemeral, and gorgeously romantic.
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‘Before Midnight’ (2013)
Released a whopping 18 years after Jesse and Céline’s first encounter, Before Midnight<em> </em>finds the couple in a years-long relationship with twin daughters. All the Before films are incredibly light on the plot and composed almost entirely of lengthy conversations, and this conclusive installment is perhaps the most plotless of all. Those who find the idea unappealing tend to find Before Midnight messy and scattered, but those who were already all in on Linklater’s favoring of dialogue over story usually find it remarkably easy to lose themselves in this painfully raw and realistic drama. In Before Midnight, gone are the romantic idealism of Before Sunrise and the nostalgic joy of Before Sunset. It’s a poignant, often downright sad movie, but that is precisely what makes it one of the best romantic films of the last 100 years. Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy are completely unafraid to challenge fans by showing just how imperfect Jesse and Céline’s life together is—and how flawed they are themselves as individuals. It’s not that the movie’s hopeless, but rather that it’s fully committed to the realities of marriage, romantic love, and long-term commitment in the modern world.
This film remains beautifully human, delightfully romantic, and bolstered by Hawke and Delpy’s borderline superhuman chemistry.
Before Midnight is the most emotionally and thematically complex and layered of the whole trilogy, which feels only natural considering what its purpose is in the overarching narrative. It’s still beautifully human, delightfully romantic, and bolstered by Hawke and Delpy’s borderline superhuman chemistry—but all that energy is redirected to something entirely different and even unpredictable. It’sthe quintessential anti-happily-ever-after romantic drama, instead building its story around the idea that it’s precisely their messiness—ups and downs—that makes relationships worthwhile. Being in love is a passive state of mind—but loving is a verb requiring constant effort; Before Midnight understands this perfectly. With its beautiful screenplay set against lavish Southern Greek vistas (arguably some of the most stunning visuals across this globe-trotting trilogy), along with what’s probably one of romance drama’s best endings ever—there’s no denying this threequel stands as masterwork alongside its two predecessors.
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‘Before Sunset’ (2004)
Image via Warner Independent Pictures
Before Sunset Might Just Be The Greatest Romantic Drama In History, A Masterclass Of Indie Filmmaking That’s Truly Flawless. Partly Inspired By Ethan Hawke’s Separation FromUma Thurman, The Film Sees Jesse And Céline Reunite In Paris Nine Years After Their First Night Together—The First Time We’ve Heard From Each Other Since Then. Mostly Thanks To Its Ravishing Dialogue,The Movie Was Nominated For A Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award But It Deserved Many More Nominations Today Many Would Point To It As Their Favorite Romantic Drama Ever Made.
This Real-Time Drama Moves Away From The Teen-Like Idealism Of Before SunriseAnd Instead Approaches Its Characters And Their Problems With Far More Maturity.
Before Sunset Is All About Things Unsaid Decisions Unmade And Paths Not Taken.It’s About Looking Back At The Past And Seeing Joy And Regret In Equal Measure;About Looking At The Present And Feeling Overwhelmed By Its Chaotic Nature About Being Terrified At The Mere Thought Of The Future.
In That Sense It’s Easily The Most Timeless Thought-Provoking And Universally Relatable Of All Before Movies.Not Everyone Has Experienced A Love As Intense As That Of Before Sunrise.And Not Everyone Knows What It’s Like To Be Middle-Aged In A Long-Term Relationship But Everyone Knows What It Feels Like To Wonder What One’s Life Would Have Become If One Had Made A Different Choice In The Past.
There Is Simply Nothing About This Masterpiece Of The Romantic Drama Genre That Lends Itself To Criticism.The Writing The Camerawork The Parisian Atmosphere The Pacing The Performances Linklater’s Airtight Direction It’s All Beyond Untouchable.
