Writer/director Richard Linklater with the additional writing of Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, have composed the end of the trilogy of Before Midnight. Taking place around 18 years after the original (Before Sunrise) and 9 years after Before Sunset, the story finds Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy) as a couple in Greece with kids. The film starts off with Jesse struggling being a separated father to his son Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, 2006’s “The Omen”) while living in France with Celine and their daughters. He feels like he must return to the States to be with his son and have Celine come with him, but receives mixed results when approaching Celine.
Like always, the film is full of long takes of incredibly novel and rich dialogue – complete with fine cinematography that keeps up with the action. Linklater’s films don’t fail in making his audience think, but this time he did it in a different way we are used to. The third act of the trilogy finally shows the audience Jesse and Celine as a grown up couple that are learning how to deal with all of the realities that committed relationships require.
Being either confrontational or still completely in love, Jesse and Celine’s relationship evolves in an honest way with an ending to their story that is believable and ultimately, right. Having waited 9 years for another one of these films has definitely been worth the wait to see these amazing characters continue their lives under the supreme craftsmanship of all involved.
Before Midnight is now playing in select theaters.
