Before Midnight

In 1995 audiences were besotted with "Before Sunrise" the story of a chance encounter between Jesse and Celine, two attractive young tourists. They meet on a train, spend a night together, make love, and separate, vowing in classic movie fashion to meet again at the same spot in six months. It was endearing because people love stories about chance encounters between kindred spirits, love and first sight, a brief shining moment where passion trumps practicality, etc. The Linklater Delpy Hawke team reunited nine years later, with "Before Sunset" when the lovers met again in Europe and spent another few hours together, this time deciding to jettison their respective partners and stay together for good this time. That was endearing because people like things to be resolved, with a happily ever after for the lovers we've gotten to know.

Less endearing, although more realistic, is the nitty gritty of what happily ever after entails. In "Before Midnight" they're middle aged, with kids, returning to Europe for a family vacation. While still affectionate, the novelty has worn off. They've got neuroses where their joie de vive once was. And the same time constraints which once lent an ardency and honesty to their conversations, are now cause for the sort of quarrels familiar to anyone who has ever gone on a family vacation. It comes up several times in the trailer (so we can assume it's a major theme of the movie) that question of whether their love has lost it's luster. The European scenery brings up memories of how they met, and at one point she questions whether he'd still be compelled to to approach her on a train if they met today. This series is a straight forward and simple hearted reflection of one relationship, so any questions about the relationship is also a question about the movies. So when Jesse and Celine ask each other if the magic is gone, the audience is invited to ask whether the magic of "Before Sunrise" still thrives in "Before Midnight". And considering how difficult it is to keep the spark of first love alive in a long term relationship, the odds are not in this movie's favor.