Before Sunrise and Sunset

I learned today that I really have a thing for realistic-take-on-romance movies.  Case 1 in point:  (500) Days of Summer.  Case 2 in point:  Before Sunrise and its sequel, Before Sunset.  I watched the last two movies today.  I cannot believe I had never heard of them before I just stumbled upon them on Rotten Tomatoes.  They are my new favorite movies.

There are essentially only two characters:  the guy and the girl.

1995, Decade-appropriately but not movie-appropriately cheesy poster

2004

What got me about these movies, aside from the superb acting and a script so organic that it seemed unscripted, was how I could listen to Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) converse and feel as though I just met two very interesting people and was now listening to them talk to me.  Multiple times I caught myself rewinding twenty seconds or so to hear something again -- not because I was afraid of missing a crucial plot element or a funny joke, but because I was genuinely so interested in what they were saying about life, time, the world, love, work, people, etc., that I didn't want to let a single phrase slip.  These people were extremely interesting to me but realistically so; the movie didn't have any of those Hollywood clichés, obvious gestures, and cheesy lines present in even the best movies...  it was almost like a very classy, extended reality show.  Only the best actors and writers could communicate such complex messages so believably -- so subtly yet clearly.  

Oh yeah, not to mention they make you think about life, love, time, and chance in a profound way.  I guess my main take-away was to not settle on someone but to try my hardest to hold on to genuine connection when I find one.  

I could go on forever about these movies.  Supposedly, yet another sequel is coming out next summer (!!!).  I hope they make one every nine years... or why not more frequently?!

In the meantime, please do yourself a favor and go watch both.