This may not be the trilogy that comes to mind when we think of “the best trilogy”. We think of The Lord of the Rings, or the original Star Wars trilogy, or Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Of course, “best” may not be the right term to use because film is subjective. However, this trilogy has so much meaning and social relevance, whilst having such incredible writing, direction and acting. Here is why I believe the Before trilogy is the “best” trilogy in film.
I like that the three films are snapshots of a universal feeling. Linklater is not trying to show everything that happens in Jesse and Celine’s lives. He is trying to authentically capture what it feels like to genuinely fall in love, to think about what could have been, and to reflect on what is happening right now.
The involvement of the actors in the writing process makes all three films so personal and universal. It is rare that an actor can write a version of themselves across three films that is so personal to them, and then to be that character. The surreal feeling of falling in love. The disappointment of not feeling that genuine love again in other relationships. The frustration and turbulence of falling out with a partner, but not wanting to separate because you feel that you are too old to try and find love again. The unique experiences of the actors add to the realism of these moments that are so universal and personal to everyone.
Linklater’s ability to show the impact of time in one’s life is astonishing and evident in all three films. Before Sunrise ends with shots of the places they have visited in the past day. It is like their romance has been captured in a series of postcards, and they have a memory to hold onto. In contrast, Before Sunset begins with the places Jesse and Celine are going to go to, immediately suggesting a distance between the two and how their perspectives on the past and the future are going to change over the course of the film. There is also something quite cyclical about the trilogy. Before Sunrise begins with Celine moving seats opposite to Jesse on the train because a German couple are loudly arguing, which leads to her involvement in Jesse’s life. And then in Before Midnight, Jesse and Celine become the married couple that are arguing. It is incredible how two people can be in complete awe of each other, and then get to a point their lives where they despise each other. And it all unfolds before our eyes in three films.
I read that even the setting of the three films represents the nature of their relationship. Vienna is conveyed quite ideally and romantically, symbolising their optimistic and youthful views. Despite it being where Celine lives, I see Paris as a country influenced by jazz music, which is quite unpredictable in its improvisation - much like Jesse and Celine in this film. Greece is an ancient country with archaic ruins, signifying the slight crumbling of their marriage in Before Midnight.
This is a perfect example of films that I like more because it didn’t do well at the box office, but is still considered one of the best films of all time. I don’t like when people consider how much a film grosses at the box office when ranking or rating films because it doesn’t always mean that they are good. This originated in appreciating the great but small budget films that River Phoenix starred in, like My Own Private Idaho and Running on Empty. But take the Disney live action remakes, for example. They gross hundreds of millions of dollars, and it infuriates me. Especially The Lion King 2019 remake, which was word-for-word the original and was not needed because we had a perfect film already. The trilogies that I mentioned at the beginning were both critically and commercially lauded, whereas this trilogy was only praised by critics. Perhaps when Before Sunrise was released, it was viewed by audiences as pretentious, but they would not understand what Linklater, Hawke and Delpy would do until the two sequels came out. It feels like nothing like this had been done before. The natural performances similar to theatre. The honest and subtle writing. The marvellous direction. It is inspiring, and what I would look to for inspiration if I were to write or direct my own play or film.
Another way in which this trilogy is so personal to viewers is that their favourite or the one they most identify with changes as they experience more of life. I know that I can relate to the second film by looking back and thinking about what could have been, even if it is not romantic. But not having many married relatives means that I have no idea what it feels like to be a part of an environment like the third film. This is something that separates these films from any other, apart from perhaps coming-of-age films.
This trilogy speaks to audiences in a way that others can’t. It is very unique in the way that the writing and acting was approached, and makes it inspirational for aspiring actors and writers such as myself.
By @thedefinitionofcreativity
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