Before Sunset trilogy is a romantic movie released in February of 2004. Directed by Linklater, the movie finds American actor Ethan Hawke and French actress Julie Delpy reprising roles. After two acquaintances reencounter in Paris, they resume where they left off.

-Paris, France, 2003. Jesse (played by Hawke) has become a successful writer. After a 10-city-book tour, his last stop is the city of love, Paris. As he glances over during the Q&A, he sees Céline (Delpy).

Despite not seeing each other in 9 years, they resume their conversation. Nevertheless, the clock is ticking because he has a plane to catch to N.Y. before the sunset.

Can you imagine not seeing a friend in almost a decade? Where do you start? What do you ask? How do you make up for all the lost time?

In that department, they do what they do best. That is, they walk across the city where the wind takes them while sparking communication. A familiar scenario to them.

Their first stop is “Le Pure Café,” where they enjoy a warm beverage. Afterward, they continue wandering across a park and also take a boat ride.

While walking, they tackle topics such as religion, beliefs, destiny, love, memories, and so forth. Surprisingly, the conversation is as fluent as 9 years ago.

If anything has changed, it is their age. They are no longer the teenagers they once were and have moved on with their lives.

For instance, Jesse is married and has a son. On the other hand, Céline is also in a relationship. And they seem happy with their respective partners.         

Yet as the sunset sets in, the truths start to appear. Admittedly, Jesse’s marriage is in shambles and the only thing keeping it together is his son. Just like on “Blue Valentine“.

• “Blue Valentine”: A real love story (Side B)

For Céline, it is an identical tale. Unfortunately, they haven’t felt a connection with anyone else in almost a decade. Thus, settling with their partners just for commitment instead of love.

“I guess when you are young, you believe there will be many people with whom you will connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.”

– Céline, Before Sunset (2004)

Afterward, the what-ifs start to appear. So, what if they would have met on December 16, 1994? Or imagine they would have walked next to each other in ’98 when they both were living in N.Y.C.?

For some reason, they were not meant to cross paths again until now. Undoubtedly, they can’t change the past, but they can alter the present and thus the future.

For more information on how their lifetime journey continues, make sure to watch “Before Sunset” and the last part of the trilogy, “Before Midnight.”

1. “Before Sunset” trilogy movie. Directed by Richard Linklater (Castle Rock Entertainment, 2004). ↩︎
2. “Before Sunset” trilogy movie. Directed by Richard Linklater (Castle Rock Entertainment, 2004). ↩︎

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Before Sunrise trilogy is a romantic movie released in January 1995 at the Sundance Film Festival. It is directed by Richard Linklater and it stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. When two strangers meet on a train, their life journey has just begun.

Sitting across each other are two strangers. The girl is reading French philosopher Georges Bataille’s “Madame Edwarda- Le Mort- Historie de l’oile,” whereas the boy is focused on German actor Klaus Kinski’s “All I Need Is Love.”

After sparking a light conversation, they head towards the lounge car to grab some food, where they learn the whereabouts of their respective holidays.

For instance, Céline (played by Delpy) is a French tourist going back to Paris after visiting her grandmother in Budapest, whereas Jesse (Hawke) is a voyager returning to the United States after being in Madrid.

As they begin scratching the surface of their respective personas, unfortunately, the next stop is Vienna, where Jesse will be taking his flight the next day at 9:30 am to his homeland.

Not wanting to say goodbye mid-conversation, he makes a bold proposition. That is, for her to get off the train with him and spend the day together. Bravely enough, she accepts.

So, what to do in Vienna, the largest city in Austria? Well, with no itinerary planned, they head where the wind takes them.

Their first stop is at a music store, where they listen to Vinyl records. Later on, they visit the graveyard named “Friedhof der Namenlosen.”

For Céline, it is not just another cemetery. She sees a silver lining in the nameless gravestones, which allows people to “invent the best and the worst for you.”

Next, they go to the Risenrad Ferris wheel, go to church, hit the club, and have dinner. As the night transcends, reality hits them. Namely, this could be their only night together.

“If there is any kind of magic in this world, it must be in the attempt of understanding someone.
It is almost impossible to succeed but the answer must be in the attempt.“

– Céline, Before Sunrise Trilogy (1995)

Eventually, to avoid the what-ifs in the future, they make a pact to meet again in Vienna, on December 16, 1994, exactly in 6 months. Do they keep their promise?

The beauty of “Before Sunrise” trilogy is the topics that are tackled such as childhood, religion, reincarnation, love, and traditions. All while two foreigners wander across the city.

• “500 Days of Summer” movie: A fictional love story (Side A)

A movie set in chronological order, unlike “500 Days of Summer.” The truth is, that everything starts with a conversation. And that could be the beginning of a lifetime journey.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Part 2 of the “Before Sunset Trilogy” premiers 28/02.

Revisit the 1995 trailer of “Before Sunrise” movie below.

1. “Before Sunrise” trilogy movie. Directed by Richard Linklater (Columbia Pictures, 1995). ↩︎
2. “Before Sunrise” trilogy movie. Directed by Richard Linklater (Columbia Pictures, 1995). ↩︎
3. “Before Sunrise” trilogy movie. Directed by Richard Linklater (Columbia Pictures, 1995). ↩︎

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Blue Valentine is a romance movie drama directed by Derek Cianfrance starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling. The movie premiered at the “Sundance Film Festival” in January 2010. This is a story of “boy meets girl” (or vice versa), and you should know upfront, that this is a real love story.

Dean (played by Ryan Gosling) works for a moving company and like Tom, he is a sucker for love. One day, as he finishes his shift of unpacking at a nursing home, he meets Cindy (Michelle Williams). Upon laying eyes on her, he knows she is the one.

“Maybe I have seen too many movies, love at first sight.
Do you think you can love somebody just by looking at them?”

-Dean, Blue Valentine (2010)

However, as he approaches her to ask for her number, she rejects him. But as faith would have it, they coincide on a bus ride, where he takes his shot.

Blue Valentine – (1/5 years)

As time passes by, they begin a new relationship. On one hand, Cindy aspires to become a doctor, whereas Dean is a school dropout but is ready to provide for her.

Moreover, just like any first love-stages, they spend the days together, are lovey-dovey, get married, and have their first child.

Fast forward five years later, their marriage seems to be in shambles, and the only string keeping them together is their daughter, Frankie (Faith Wladyka).

(5/5 years)

Unfortunately, her dream of becoming a doctor has not panned out, and she works as a nurse. On the other hand, he is a painter.

To revive the spark, Dean shares the idea of going to a motel. Nonetheless, once they are there, Cindy questions life. Just like Summer, she believes he has more potential than being just a painter.

What was supposed to be a romantic getaway, turns into a blue valentine and there is no turning back. Despite their efforts, the flaming spark has vanished. So, is this what love (coincidence/destiny) comes down to once the lovey-dovey phase exits the picture?

To conclude, “500 Days of Summer” and “Blue Valentine” have similarities. As the audience watches flashbacks and present times, they must puzzle the pieces together to contemplate the big picture (Side A and B).

We all have expectations in life and live in a fictional world where the core existence of love exists, yet reality overshadows it.

Revisit the trailer in the link below.

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500 Days of Summer movie is a romantic comedy-drama released at the “Sundance Film Festival” on January 17th, 2009. The flick is directed by Marc Webb and it stars Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Matthew Gubler, and Chloë Grace Moretz. This is a story of “boy meets girl” (or vice versa), and you should know upfront, that this is a fictional love story.

Firstly, let me introduce you to Tom (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) from New Jersey. A greeting card writer who works at a card company in Los Angeles, California.

One day, he meets Summer (Zooey Deschanel) from Michigan. The distance between these two states is over 1,000 Kilometers. Therefore, what are the odds of them ever meeting in life?

500 Days of Summer Movie – (1/500 Days)

Upon laying eyes on her, Tom asserts she is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. One morning, they coincide at the elevator where she eavesdrops on what he is listening to, “The Smiths.” Despite their taste in music, they learn they have different beliefs.

“I have been in relationships before and I have never seen it.
There is no such thing as love, it’s a fantasy.”

-Summer, 500 Days of Summer (2009)

On one side, Tom believes in the existence of love, whereas Summer assures it is fiction. More specifically, he considers that true happiness can only be reached with a significant other. Consequently, they agree to disagree.

However, in the upcoming days, they start hanging out and become more intimate. From walks to the parks to window shopping at Ikea to sharing secrets.

(290/500 Days)

The push comes to shove when on day 290, Summer wants to break up. After all, she doesn’t want to put any label and believes he has way more potential than being just a card writer.

Despite his friends’ (Geoffrey and Matthew) advice to move on, he wants to have a say. Nonetheless, things have changed and Tom learns about the “Expectations vs. Reality” effect.

As a consequence, Tom realizes what his little sister/love guru, Rachel (Chloë Grace), had told him. All along he focused on the fictional world instead of acknowledging the reality. Lastly, he ditches the greeting cards and follows his true passion, which is architecture.

So, what happens after the 500-day mark? Moreover, is love pure coincidence, or is a person already destined to be with a significant other?

Well, there are always two sides to every story, right? Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Revisit the trailer in the link below.

1. “500 Days of Summer” movie. Directed by Marc Webb (Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2009). ↩︎
2. “500 Days of Summer” movie. Directed by Marc Webb (Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2009). ↩︎

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