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What Makes the “Before” Trilogy So Romantic? — Scene+Heard

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The “Before” trilogy, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, spans 18 years of Jesse and Celine’s relationship after they meet on a train to Vienna and spend a spontaneous evening exploring the city. I often joke that these movies, which are my favorites of all time, are just about a couple taking walks and chatting. But considering their timelessness and critical acclaim, they’re actually about so much more. The trilogy bridges the gap between optimism and realism by creating an insular bubble for Jesse and Celine — a safe space where time stops and they find genuine connection — while also exploring how their dynamic shifts over time and how love between two people can help them weather the inevitable trials of their relationship. The “Before” trilogy is essentially an exploration of time, and consequently, death: time passing, time stopping, and what makes time well spent. Each film strategically takes place within a span of a few hours, so the viewe

What Makes the “Before” Trilogy So Romantic? Jesse and Celine in “Before Sunrise”; Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair The “Before” trilogy, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, spans 18 years of Jesse and Celine’s relationship after they meet on a train to Vienna and spend a spontaneous evening exploring the city. I often joke that these movies, which are my favorites of all time, are just about a couple taking walks and chatting. But considering their timelessness and critical acclaim, they’re actually about so much more. The trilogy bridges the gap between optim

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