Before Midnight

Anyone who has ever loved knows these fears. The fear of loneliness and at the same time fear of the weight of past decisions, of the power of chance and the relativity of time. Because romantic encounters are beautiful and spontaneous and magnificent, heart-rending reunions are unforgettable. But love years later is something that cannot be left to chance. Richard Linklater has resurfaced with a film that had countless opportunities to fail, to fail to live up to its predecessors, and to dilute the magic of what seemed definitive. And just like in Paris, I was blinded with tears by being able to pick up nine years later, in the same place. Some things in life may wither sooner or later and some things unfortunately intensify. And despite the fact that Before Midnight tears the heart in the most intimate and treacherous way, these two talkative travelers are once again at full strength. Their eighteen-year odyssey has no equal in the genre of romantic drama. And my sixth sense tells me that the year 2022 might bring us something good again. (19/07/2013)

Another incredibly mature work. Fantastically oscillating between melancholy, romance, drama, and exaggeration. Flawless acting and the several minutes-long shots, concentrating all the film energy on the two protagonists are a stroke of brilliance. A generational change within the theme, but the quality is absolutely unchanged. This is life. (23/08/2013)

To my own surprise, after the scene in the car I stopped watching where the actors were reading their dialogue from, which I suddenly started to have a tendency to enter. Linklater's concept of relationship wrought into resigned feminist dogma (I chuckled maliciously at the scene where the women prepare dinner while the men sit and talk about literature, i.e. the scene the protagonist later leans into) works with the premise of accepting fictional identities that suppress the real identities already mapped and scorned by their counterparts. And I'd like to keep watching that final spark that jumped between the chrononaut and the naive literature student. Even though neither of them exist. (17/10/2013)

Life has consequences; that's just how it is, and we can't do much about it. We see this clearly with this amazing couple, whom we've encountered for the third time. Jesse and Céline are married, which is a pleasant revelation, but the romance that was present in their first and even second meetings has gradually faded from their shared life. They're used to each other, they have their problems. That's just life. Nonetheless, you still enjoy watching them and listening to what they have to say, because this is the most beautiful aspect of all three films. Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke just click, whether they're in love or a bit jaded with life. They’re such a perfect couple that one wonders why it isn't true in real life. Will we see a fourth installment in nine years? (04/12/2013)

In the final part of the trilogy, Linklater and I really clicked. His characters have finally grown up and, despite their flaws, they are now able to behave as mature parents and partners. It is no longer so self-centered because their children, acquaintances, and friends complement the married couple. In terms of age, worries, and emotions, I feel close to them and I understand their problems and behavior. I would say that Linklater has matured as a filmmaker during the long breaks between films. Overall impression: 80%. (19/07/2018)