Before Sunset

Snufkin · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:14 pm Post subject: Before Sunset

Any other gals seen this movie yet? What was your opinion? Hopelessly romantic or boring talk-fest? It's been so long since I saw the movie it's a sequel to I can't even remember what Jesse & Celine talked about during their previous encounter.

I don't want to spoiler any big details in case some of ya'll haven't seen it yet. But if you have, I'd love to discuss. At the end, my friend asked me what I thought happens and if that meant I was a romantic or a cynic. Which I'm still thinking about!
_________________
"People call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute."

~ Rebecca West (1892-1983)

for_esme · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 5:30 pm Post subject:

i thought it was lovely. granted, when i was fifteen "before sunrise" was my absolute favorite movie, i must have watched it twenty times, and so i remembered most of what they were referring to in the sequel. i didn't think it was boring at all, but that's just me.

one thing that bothered me - at the end, when celine is dancing around kind of half-singing half-mumbling, it seemed a bit out of character. did it strike anyone else that way? i mean, ten minutes before she was kind of nervously playing a waltz on her guitar for jesse, sort of shy, and suddenly she's acting very uninhibited... it seemed a bit strange. that's really nitpicky of me, but still.

i guess that might be what it's like when you're getting to know someone again, one minute you're really unsure and the next you're totally open. anyway.

Ms. Monkey · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: New Mexico

Ok, I saw this last week (and was just looking for the film times so I could see it again today, its not playing in Albuquerque anymore).
I loved loved loved Before Sunrise whenI was 15. I loved how idealistic and romantic there were. Of course, I thought Jesse and Celine would meet in six months.
However, since then i had decided they would not.
I've had no urge to see before sunrise because I am afraid I would find their conversations trite and silly.
Before Sunset, started right where I am. I could relate to that film so well. Not so much in the love area, but in the way I've become more bitter, jaded realistic?
After the film, I sat in an ice cream shop with Mr. Monkey trying to explain how the film made me feel and I ened up with tears streaming down my face.
I couldn't stop crying, for Celine, for Jesse, for myself.
I felt like I was mourning the fact that I have grown up and become less romantic, that I don't see the world as magical. (which it totally, is). This movie opened up a lot of ideas and emotions for me which I'm still processing.
Unfortunately Mr. monkey thought it was a silly film.
If anyone wants to talk about it, let me know!
I'm having quite a time processing it.

shove it · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 17 Location: philly, pa

I found a lot of the conversation in the earlier part of the movie rather trite. But, like you Ms. Monkey, Celine's conversation at the end about feeling numb & more jaded & cynical really struck a nerve. I feel sad that I'm not romantic & idealistic like I used to be. I could totally relate when Celine was talking about prefering to be alone & how it was too painful to keep going through relationships/breakups.
I also found Jesse's unhappiness with his marriage really sad. It's like one's first love is the only time when people are truly open (because it's before they've been jaded by the pain of heartbreak).

roxy_fondue · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:26 pm Post subject:

at the end of this film, i burst out crying in that embarassing way that makes you hide your face. i was enamoured with the original, and was excited to hear about the remake. it was the best remake ever!!! ethan hawke and julie delpy revitalized their characters perfectly. every nuance and body expression was the same.
for days after seeing it, i thought about it. i still think about it. if it was a food, i'd eat it. if it was air, i'd breathe it.

ok, i'm just being corny now. but you get the picture.

roxy, who even bought julie delpy's album the same day as seeing the film because of that damn fine waltz she sings in the movie.

Ms. Monkey · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: New Mexico

Roxy,
I can totally relate with you. You captured the way I feel about this film. I began looking at Julie Delpy's album right afterwards, however, I have only found it for an expensive price. Is it good??

Snufkin · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 8:31 pm Post subject:

Wow, thanks for all the comments about the movie! I'm still working through exactly what it meant to me. On the one hand, I could really identify with some of the issues like the what ifs (it reminded me of a 'Jesse' I knew) and the bittersweet regrets which come with age. But on the other hand, I just thought that the characters were too young to be feeling that meloncholy! Which made me wonder if it had less to do with how fate turned out for both of them and maybe their inherent characters (which incidentally makes them perfect for one another).

If the 'romantic' interpretation of the ending is that he stays with here and maybe they're finally united, will they stay together in the long run? Wasn't that their argument against exchanging phone numbers, etc in the first movie? That once the initial rush of romance wore off they'd break up? Which could easily be an excuse for not opening up to real intimacy/committment to one another. But still...

I guess what I'd really like to have seen would be the two of them meet up when time really has passed on for them, like 25-30 years later. I just didn't take them seriously with all the regrets about lost opportunities - they're still both pretty young!
_________________
"People call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute."

~ Rebecca West (1892-1983)