Everything’s better with maturity.|Apr. 05, 2013|United States | Greece|109 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;Romance
Description: Nine years after rekindling their relationship, Jesse and Céline are now parents to twin girls. Jesse struggles with maintaining a connection with his teenage son, Hank, who lives with Jesse’s ex-wife in Chicago after spending a vacation with his father, Céline, and their children on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece. Jesse is a successful novelist, while Céline faces a career crossroads, contemplating a position with the French government.
During a dinner with friends, the couple discusses their concerns about Hank and Céline’s career, reflecting on love and life. Their friends arrange a hotel stay for them. On their walk to the hotel, Jesse and Céline reminisce about their past meetings and wonder if they would have fallen for each other under different circumstances.
At the hotel, their moment of intimacy is interrupted by a call from Hank, who seems closer to Céline than to Jesse. This leads to a heated argument, where they express doubts about the strength of their relationship. Jesse suggests relocating to Chicago to be closer to Hank, a move Céline fears could derail her career prospects. In the heat of the argument, Céline admits she no longer loves Jesse.
Céline leaves their room and sits alone in the hotel restaurant. Jesse follows, attempting to lighten the mood by joking that he is a time traveler, referencing their first encounter. He presents a fictional letter from her 82-year-old self, describing the night as one of the best of their lives. Unimpressed, Céline counters that their fantasies will never align with their flawed reality. Jesse acknowledges the imperfections in their love but emphasizes its authenticity. Eventually, Céline joins in Jesse’s playful mood, and the two reconcile.
Cast director: Richard Linklater
Cast actor: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Prior, Charlotte Prior, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Walter Lassally, Ariane Labed, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Athina Rachel Tsangari
Original name: Before Midnight