The Before trilogy, which was directed by David Linklater, consists of Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight. Our main characters Celine and Jesse (played by Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke) meet in a different European city in each film. The setting of Before Sunrise is Vienna, where Celine and Jesse first meet on a train and decide to spend the night together exploring the city. The two then re-convene in Before Sunset, this time in Paris where Jesse is giving a book reading. Last but not least, Messinia, a Greek town, is the setting for Before Midnight.
The strolling and talking format is largely the same across each chapter. It’s fascinating to see how the conversation points have evolved in the 18 years between the first and last films. The performers, who co-write the scripts with Linklater, age and acquire experience in between each film, which is a crucial element of their beauty. Because they are so rooted in reality, the characters are so likeable and believable. Fans of the trilogy will be aware that nothing can match the enchantment that gave rise to these three films. However, there are many films that follow the same, consistently intriguing formula and feature two individuals merely strolling around and conversing. Here are 12 films that will satisfy your desire for the Before trilogy.
Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong
Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong is a perfect example of a right person, wrong time narrative, as are so many of these films. The two main characters are Josh, a local American played by Bryan Greenberg, and Ruby, an American tourist played by Jamie Chung. The on-screen chemistry between the two actors enhances the movie’s attractiveness. It’s a beautiful watch with minimal stakes that is easy to watch. As Josh shows Ruby around, the city of Hong Kong is stunning at night. Even while it might not be the most accurate or truthful representation of city life, that is a key element in the charm of these tales. We get to witness a little exaggerated, more sentimental representation of reality.
Before We Go (2014)
Even the title of Before We Go, Chris Evans’ directorial debut, makes reference to the Before trilogy. Evans plays Nick, and Alice Eve plays Brooke in it. They cross paths in Grand Central Station, where Brooke missed the last train and Nick is busking. She also had her handbag taken, which put her in a difficult situation. They wind up spending the entire night wandering about New York City in a manner reminiscent of Before Sunrise. Evans claims that this relationship exists because the people in Before We Go are “initial damage was a little worse. Each of us is escaping something.”
Blue Jay (2016)
Blue Jay stars Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass as high school sweethearts Amanda and Jim, who unexpectedly meet in their hometown. They spend the day exploring the town while catching up on one other’s lives that they had missed. Their shared past gives the movie a rich emotional backdrop and offers the two something to talk about. As usual, Paulson delivers a superb performance that complements the sensitivity of the film’s black-and-white colouring. It’s a quiet, mellow movie that doesn’t strive too hard to imitate the wonder of the Before trilogy, which makes it more independent-minded than movies like Before We Go.
Certified Copy (2010)
William Shimell plays James in the movie Certified Copy, a writer who travels to Lucignano, Italy to read from his book about the difference between the value of a copy and the original. He meets Juliette Binoche’s Elle there, and after they go on a walk together, she invites him to come see her the following day. They start off talking about little things and getting to know one another, but as the day goes on, the conversation calls into question the nature of their connection. You are left waiting for every word since there is so much ambiguity and uncertainty. It’s as though Before Sunrise had a mystery rather than a developing relationship as its central theme.
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007)
In the movie In Search of a Midnight Kiss, Wilson, a man looking for someone to kiss on New Year’s Eve, runs upon Vivian, a woman on a similar quest. The final few hours of the year are spent on the streets of Los Angeles by Wilson and Vivian after they meet. Like many of these flicks, the time of year causes them to reflect on their lives and have confessional dialogues with one another. The actor playing Vivian, Sara Simmonds, tells IGN that “the tranquilly on set really allows this organic experience to emerge.” The casual and unforced interactions between Wilson and Vivian throughout really highlight this.
Le Week-End (2013)
Meg and Nick are portrayed in Le Week-End by Lindsay Duncan and Jim Broadbent. In an effort to reignite their youth and marriage, Meg and Nick take a weekend trip to Paris, which is followed throughout the novel. Despite the fact that they argue a lot, Jeff Goldblum’s character, who they run into, helps them get back on track. Hanif Kureishi is the author of the dialogue, thus it is both tragic and vivacious. The group also brilliantly plays off of one another, presenting connections that are simple to believe predated the advent of the cameras.
Malcolm and Marie (2021)
The title characters in Malcolm & Marie are played by John David Washington and Zendaya. A filmmaker named Malcolm and his girlfriend Marie have just returned from a premiere, respectively. The remainder of the film follows them as resentments escalate into heated fights. Washington and Zendaya both gave excellent performances, and the tension between them was fascinating to see. Here, the one-night-only dialogue between a couple motif is presented in a darker manner. Contrasting with what we see in Before Sunrise, which has stunning vistas and hues even in its midnight hours, is the movie’s nighttime black and white colouring.
MindWalk (1990)
MindWalk is a discussion between a poet, politician, and scientist that leans heavily on philosophy. Sam Waterson portrays Jack the politician, Liv Ullmann portrays Sonia the scientist, and John Heard plays Tom the poet. The three talk about a variety of things, although they mainly talk about political and social issues. They focus more on understanding one another’s viewpoints than actually trying to address these problems. Everyone watching will undoubtedly think of a fresh concept at some time because the range of viewpoints on these subjects is so wide. You’ll continue to reflect on its discussions long after the playtime has ended.
My Dinner With Andre (1981)
Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory, who feature in My Dinner With Andre, also wrote the script, like the Before trilogy. The film simply depicts the events of a dinner between two friends. The two talk about their various worldviews and life experiences. It’s intriguing that a film in this genre focuses on a platonic rather than a romantic relationship. Less compatibility between the two letters is required, allowing for a distinct type of discourse. The Before trilogy and My Dinner With Andre make a fantastic combination because they provide different perspectives on the same issue.
Paterson (2016)
Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson is a subdued drama that centres on Adam Driver’s Paterson, a character who happens to reside in Paterson, New Jersey. A week in his life as a bus driver and poet is depicted in the film. He wakes up at the same time every day without an alarm, demonstrating his strong awareness of his surroundings and vigilance over his schedule. He is compelled to examine his life honestly when his rigorous regimen is interrupted rather than continually going through the same motions. Although Paterson doesn’t adhere to the standard walking and talking structure found in the other films on this list, its emphasis on introspective reflection on more mundane parts of life makes it compatible with some of these other films.
Walking and Talking (1996)
Nicole Holofcener, famed for the film Can You Ever Forgive Me?, wrote and directed the endearing Walking and Talking, which does exactly what you’d expect. The story revolves around Katherine Keener’s character Amelia, whose closest friend Laura is getting married to Todd Field, who plays the groom. She is shown attempting to date and discussing everything with Laura. There is still a lot of walking and talking in Walking and Talking, even if it is not set in the same time frame as the Before trilogy.
Waking Life (2001)
Waking Life, another film by Richard Linklater, is arguably the most original on the list. It is an animated portrayal of a man attempting to distinguish between the dream and waking worlds as he travels through his dreams. He encounters a number of people along the route who share insights or conversation about the purpose of life. Notably, he runs across Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke repeating their cartoon roles as Celine and Jesse. The film delivers the same amount of philosophical reflection as the others in this list, albeit in a rather different manner.
