"An Affair to Remember…Again"
by Scott Mantz

"Before Sunset"
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
Directed by Richard Linklater

We'll always have Paris! Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke get reacquainted in "Before Sunset"

The only thing worse than running into an ex-girlfriend that you still have feelings for is running into that ex-girlfriend when she’s on a date with another guy.  I recently found that out the hard way, and as much as I hate to admit it, it really freaked me out.

I had just finished a good run along the beach in Santa Monica, and as I was making my way to the nearest beach pit for a well-deserved fruit smoothie, I saw my most recent ex-girlfriend returning rollerblades with some other guy.  It was obvious that they were on a date, and just when my heart started pounding with undeniable jealousy, I thought about ducking for cover before I was spotted.

That’s when I blurted out her name, and instead of catching her off guard, I somehow got the impression that she knew I was already there.  Maybe she was just hoping that I’d go away and avoid an unpleasant situation -- which, in hindsight, is probably what I should have done -- but since I was already feeling uncomfortable anyway, I figured, what the hell.

Despite being instantly attracted to each other after a chance encounter earlier this year, we jumped into a heated, passionate relationship that barely lasted for 3 1/2 months before burning out.  That was a month ago, and even though I still believe that we did the right thing when we mutually decided to split, I wasn’t thinking about that while she was standing right in front of me with what’s-his-name.  After enduring some nervous banter before parting ways with a cordial “It was great to see you,” I spent the next few days obsessing about how two people who were so passionate about each other could split so fast without even trying to work things out.

Then I saw “Before Sunset” -- a movie that I immediately related to under the circumstances.  In the film, the characters played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy run into each other nine years after spending a romantic evening together in Vienna.  In this case, Delpy’s character, Celine, wasn’t on a date, and the wife of Hawke’s character, Jesse, was back at home taking care of their 4-year old son, but it didn’t really matter.  Despite the different directions that their lives took them, their feelings for each other were stronger than ever -- just as my feelings for my ex-girlfriend hadn’t changed one bit.

In 1995’s “Before Sunrise,” Jesse and Celine were naïve twentysomethings who made an instant connection after meeting on a train while traveling through Europe.  Even though they have to go their separate ways in a matter of hours, they make the most of their time together and share a level of intimacy that neither person will ever forget.  It’s now nine years later, and Jesse is in Paris promoting the book he wrote about that romantic evening when he runs into Celine.  They spend some time walking and talking before Jesse has to hitch a ride back to the U.S., but they soon realize that maybe they were seeing each other for a reason.  Maybe this is their chance to finally consummate the love that has been brewing for all these years.

If the original film was an idealistic and innocent gem, then the sequel is a bittersweet and introspective reality check.  To that extent, it’s hard to fully appreciate “Before Sunset” without seeing it’s predecessor, and it might even be more beneficial to watch the DVD right before seeing the follow-up.  That’s because so much of the conversation hinges on the original film, and only by remembering exactly what was said before will moviegoers feel the impact of where Jesse and Celine are now.

If Jesse and Celine were young and stupid in “Before Sunrise,” then they’re older and wiser -- though not necessarily happier -- in “Before Sunset.”  Where Jesse is trapped in a loveless relationship, Celine hasn’t had a meaningful relationship since that one fateful night all those years ago.  And nowhere better can the exhausting toll of life be seen than on the face of Ethan Hawke, whose gaunt appearance can’t help but be the result of his recent personal problems.  Since Hawke and Delpy are also credited with having co-written the screenplay with director Richard Linklater, it’s safe to assume that both actors wrote from their own personal experiences.

In the end, it just goes to show you that whether it’s a beautiful night that happened 9 years ago or a 3 1/2-month relationship that ended just a few weeks ago, everything happens for a reason.  I’ve always been an idealistic dreamer when it comes to the notion of love conquering all (that’s what comes with watching too many movies), but the harsh reality is that there are a number of reasons why passion alone isn’t enough to sustain a relationship.  That doesn’t diminish the level of intimacy that two people might have shared, but it does make it easier to accept the results and move on.

Whew, I’m glad I got that off my chest.  Now I think I’ll go for a run on the beach…

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