Before Sunset

Before Sunset offered a vastly different perspective on Jesse and Celine’s relationship. Jesse is clearly the more romantic character – he was the only to return to Vienna six months after their first meeting. Although Celine comes prepared with an inarguable excuse, she seems to find some humor and entertainment in the situation. Initially, she wasn’t able to remember certain aspects of their meeting very clearly, although she later claims to remember perfectly. Jesse, on the other hand, wrote a book to both celebrate and lament their relationship in the hopes of inciting another run-in with Celine. Additionally, throughout the course of the day, Celine seems to be somewhat disinterested in Jesse’s advances – All her speak of love and relationships is tainted with cynicism. He is still hopeful and clinging to his image of desire, whereas Celine seems to have given up hope.

Perhaps Jesse finds his other relationships to be unfulfilling because he is still holding on to the unshattered, idealized image of Celine. His unrealized desires run a constant loop of doubt in his mind, leaving him with an unsettling feeling about his various significant others. Celine experiences a similar phenomenon, but it seems to be less pronounced. I’m inclined to believe that Celine has learned a thing or two about desire since their first meeting. She explains to Jesse that she prefers to be with men who are away on business or otherwise traveling the majority of the time. Although this preference may not be a conscious one, it makes sense. These relationships would be easier for her to maintain because the ideal image of her significant other is more difficult to shatter. She largely constructs this image by herself while her lover is away and not around enough to shatter it.

In my opinion, Before Sunset fell flat in comparison to Before Sunrise. During their initial meet, they were complete and total strangers, but by the time they reconvened nine years later, they had formed countless preconceived notions about one another. There is something more raw and honest about an intimate conversation with a complete stranger. You’re not being careful to tiptoe around certain subjects and there is no need to feel embarrassed if you’ll never see that person again. Once a relationship has been established, it’s natural and, to some extent, uncontrollable to censor the information shared. For example, Celine and Jesse were hesitant to talk about their respective significant others. There were a few brief occasions that they did broach the subject, but they emphasized the insignificance of these relationships. If the two had never met before, this likely would not be the case. The content of the conversation is fundamentally different.