Before Sunset

It was on this day in 2004 that Richard Linklater’s Before Sunset was first released to a limited number of U.S. theaters. Co-written by Linklater with stars Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, the feature became the type of rare sequel that critics adored and awards committees embraced. The screenplay was nominated in Best Screenplay categories at the Writers’ Guild, Independent Spirit and Academy Awards. Like its predecessor (1995’s Before Sunrise), Before Sunset follows Parisian Celine (Delpy) and American Jesse (Hawke) as they walk the streets of Europe bonding. Their deadline this time around: Sunset. Movie’s running time: 80 minutes. To address the timing discrepancy, Linklater employed many long takes, only a few unique scenes and an open ending–thereby achieving a feeling of real time and granting the audience access to the timeless tale of kindred spirits.

Connections: To date, Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater have completed six films together, including The Newton Boys (1998), Tape (2001), Waking Life (2001) and Fast Food Nation (2006).