Love Before Midnight

Regarded by fans as the benchmark of love, "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset" finally welcome the third installment, "Before Midnight." In the first film, American youth Jesse (played by Ethan Hawke) meets French girl Celine (played by Julie Delpy) on a train, and they spend an unforgettable night in Vienna; nine years later in the second film, Jesse has become a writer, and his novel reunites him with Celine in Paris, where they rekindle their connection before sunset. Now, another nine years have passed, and Jesse and Celine are living together with twin daughters, having gained more insights on life and love. "Before Midnight" captures their last day of vacation on a small island in the southern Peloponnese of Greece. Director Richard Linklater and the two leads seem to be meeting with fans for a date every nine years, and although the trilogy spans 18 years, the storylines could almost fit on the back of one sheet of paper. The film typically narrates stories solely through dialogue between characters, with the two protagonists either walking through serene villages or leisurely sitting on terraces and at dining tables, continuously discussing topics like literature, love, life, and gender. However, unlike the previous two films, as they finally come together, the romance of love begins to be replaced by the mundane details of daily life and the practicality of being together, leading to arguments and quarreling. How can love be maintained beneath the veil of "marriage"? The film unfolds 18 years of their relationship and slowly dissolves the little resentments, presenting the most genuine and moving side of love.