Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight

I just saw the third Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy movie, "Before Midnight."  If you haven't seen the first two movies [I'm sure they're available on Netflix or DVD], I'd suggest 'catching up' on the background before heading in to this one.

I loved loved loved "Before Sunrise," which came out in 1995 and takes place primarily in Vienna.  Wow, how time flies!  And then I enjoyed "Before Sunset," which takes place in Paris and was filmed in 2004.  Now this newest addition takes place in Greece 2013.  So they've continued the story of this couple with an installment every nine years and it's really quite interesting to follow the progression / changes in their relationship and lives.

Essentially, they are movies of dialogue and more dialogue.  The screenplays were written, in part, by Ethan and Julie; so they're delivering their own lines.  As I watched this afternoon, it was easy to forget I was watching a film; it really put me in a "Oh yes, I've been there and done that" kind of mood.  I'm still digesting it; I'd be interested in others' comments.
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14 comments:

  1. Tanks for that, Shelagh and I will look for and watch all three!

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    1. Let me know what you think afterwards. I have to credit the first, "Before Sunrise," with engendering my wish to continue to learn what would happen with the young lovers. And, I haven't been disappointed. I found myself thinking this morning: I wonder if they'll do a fourth, fifth ......

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  2. Mary-Pat, I'm kind of hesitant about this---using your blog to talk about my book. But your description of "Before Midnight" sounds a lot like my "Second Chances," which starts at a fiftieth high school reunion and follows a pair of relationships that are renewed there.

    When you write of "dialogue and more dialogue" I take that to mean you're watching the people and their relationship, rather than constant action for the sake of constant action. That's where my stories go. And because they are about October folks, chances are they are full of "I've been there and done that."

    Hope I didn't offend. Have a good day.

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    1. No Gil. you're comments are always appreciated. I'm intrigued. Can I find "Second Chances?" I'd like to read it. It's interesting that you say it started at a fiftieth high school reunion because my own fiftieth reunion was revelatory for me too. I had not kept up with my high school friends and acquaintances and was so surprised when I remembered and was remembered by so many 'girls' I'd not thought of in YEARS. I've reconnected on a fairly regular basis with several women who were very important to me as a teenager, and again now. I went to a private all girls school so it's not as easy to keep up with those teenage romances. What the heck, the reason I didn't keep up with the girls either was that I got married at 17 when my friends were just heading off to college!

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  3. Gil:
    I just found you on Amazon. Wow, I can't wait to get started. Thanks for letting me know. Got to go to Amazon - be back later!

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  4. I've seen and enjoyed both of these movies. Look forward to the sequel. We saw them about five years apart, I think, so it was a catch up.

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  5. I've never heard of these movies - now I'm curious!

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  6. I too was able to download Gil's book to my Kindle.....it looks like a fun read
    ron

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  7. I've read about 15% and have to say that I can actually FEEL a lot of what I've read so far. Let's compare notes in a few more chapters!

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