Before Midnight Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two people who probably should have broken up years ago have a really long, drawn-out fight in Greece, proving that love is dead and everyone is doomed to be miserable.

🍿 Before Midnight: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Reconnecting with Family

Nine years after *Before Sunset*, Jesse and Celine are living in Paris with their twin daughters. They are on vacation in Greece. Jesse is struggling with his relationship with his teenage son, Hank, who lives in Chicago with his mother. The film opens with Jesse dropping Hank off at the airport after a summer vacation together, leaving Jesse feeling conflicted about his distance from his son and his responsibilities to his new family. He grapples with the desire to be closer to Hank, even considering a move to Chicago, much to Celine’s unease.

Career Crossroads and Relationship Tensions

Celine is at a career crossroads, contemplating a job in the French government, but she struggles with feelings of being overwhelmed. She also grapples with guilt and resentment related to the sacrifices she has made in her life. The film portrays the daily life of the couple, which includes driving with their daughters, engaging in intellectual conversations with friends, and navigating career decisions. These conversations are natural and often humorous, but also reveal underlying tensions in their relationship.

A Gift and a Getaway

Invited by friends to spend a night alone at a hotel, Jesse and Celine initially enjoy a romantic interlude. They reminisce about their past and playfully flirt, momentarily rekindling the spark of their early romance. However, as the night progresses, unresolved issues begin to surface. This romantic getaway becomes a battleground for their long-simmering resentments and differing life perspectives.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jesse (Ethan Hawke): A successful American novelist grappling with his responsibilities as a father to both his teenage son and his twin daughters, while navigating a complex relationship with Celine.
• Celine (Julie Delpy): A passionate and intelligent environmentalist facing a career crossroads, while also dealing with the challenges of motherhood and a long-term relationship with Jesse.
• Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick): Jesse’s teenage son who struggles with the distance from his father and the complexities of his parents’ separation.
• Anna (Ariane Labed): A young woman who is part of the group of writers in Greece, offering a different perspective on love and relationships.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jesse: “If you want love, then this is it. This is real life. It’s not perfect but it’s real.” – Jesse expresses his view on love as something imperfect yet authentic, during an argument with Celine about the expectations versus the realities of their relationship.
• Celine: “I’m just saying that maybe we are not the best people together.” – Celine voices her doubts about their compatibility during a heated exchange, questioning the foundation of their long-term relationship.
• Jesse: “We’re still fighting the same battles. That’s us. We keep reinventing them.” – Jesse reflects on the cyclical nature of their arguments, acknowledging that despite their history, they often revisit the same conflicts.
• Celine: “I love that we grew up together. You know? I really do. We just missed all the phases that people go through.” – Celine explains to Jesse how meaningful it is that they’ve known each other for so long and their life is together, they grew up together and missed the phases that people would experience alone.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $8,114,627
• Worldwide Gross: $20,705,582

💥 Before Midnight Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie hit hard. As a fan of the series, I was expecting romance and witty banter, but ‘Before Midnight’ delivers a raw, honest look at long-term relationships. I found myself nodding along to their arguments, feeling the weight of their history. The scene in the hotel room was brutal but real, showcasing the highs and lows of love. This isn’t just a movie; it’s a mirror reflecting the complexities of modern relationships. I left the theater feeling deeply moved and contemplating my own life.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of independent cinema”
  • “People interested in realistic relationship dramas”
  • “Viewers who appreciate witty dialogue and character-driven stories”
  • “Those who have enjoyed the previous Before films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes including marital conflict”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Brief nudity”

Professional Reviews

• The Guardian: “Linklater’s brief encounter defies romantic convention, offering a mature and honest look at a long-term relationship. The sharp dialogue and nuanced performances make it a deeply engaging and thought-provoking experience.
• The New York Times: “Before Midnight is not just a continuation but a deepening of the themes explored in its predecessors. Hawke and Delpy deliver raw and vulnerable performances, making this a profound exploration of love, commitment, and the challenges of aging.
• Rolling Stone: “Before Midnight is a gutsy, uncompromising portrait of a relationship navigating the complexities of mid-life. Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy’s collaboration results in a film that is both funny and heartbreaking, a testament to the enduring power of conversation.

Audience Reactions

The realistic portrayal of a couple’s struggles resonated deeply with viewers.: Audiences appreciated the film’s honesty, sharp dialogue, and the actors’ believable performances.

Viewers were captivated by the film’s emotional depth and thought-provoking themes.: Many praised the film for its unflinching look at the challenges of long-term relationships and the complexities of love and commitment.

Overall Consensus: Before Midnight is a critically acclaimed and emotionally resonant film that offers a realistic and often painful look at long-term relationships, prompting audiences to reflect on their own experiences with love and commitment.

Awards

1. Critics’ Choice Movie Award (Best Original Screenplay)- 2013

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, and Richard Linklater co-wrote the screenplay, continuing their collaborative process from the previous films.”
• “The film was shot in Greece, taking advantage of the beautiful landscapes to provide a backdrop for the characters’ evolving relationship.”
• “The long takes, a signature element of the series, were carefully choreographed and required extensive rehearsal to maintain the natural flow of dialogue.”

🖥️ How to Watch Before Midnight?

Before Midnight is available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability, as streaming options can change. Some libraries may also offer it on DVD or Blu-ray.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Before Midnight, you might like these similar films:

• Before Sunrise (1995): The first film in the series, exploring the initial spark between Jesse and Celine.
• Before Sunset (2004): The second film in the series, showing the rekindling of their relationship years later.
• Marriage Story (2019): A modern drama that intimately portrays the complexities and emotional challenges of a dissolving marriage.
• Scenes from a Marriage (1973): A classic film exploring the disintegration of a marriage through intense, dialogue-driven scenes.
• Blue Valentine (2010): Raw and emotional drama depicting the disillusionment and struggles within a long-term relationship.

🛒 Before Midnight Related Products

• Before Trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight) [Blu-ray]: Collector’s edition Blu-ray set featuring all three films in the ‘Before’ series. Includes bonus content such as behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and commentary from Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy.
• Before Sunrise & Before Sunset Double Feature [DVD]: A double feature DVD set of the first two movies in the series. A more affordable and widely available option, for those that don’t have Blu-Ray.
• Richard Linklater: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series): Book featuring in-depth interviews with director Richard Linklater about his career, including discussions on the ‘Before’ trilogy and his filmmaking process. Provides insights into his creative vision and influences.
• Greece Travel Guide: Explore the beauty of Greece with a comprehensive travel guide. Discover the stunning locations where ‘Before Midnight’ was filmed, including the Peloponnese region and its picturesque coastal villages.

🎧 Soundtrack

Before Midnight features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Gia ena tango” – performed by Haris Alexiou
• “Anatoli” – performed by Not Available
• “Waltz for a Night” – performed by Julie Delpy

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Before Trilogy – Love Over Time

Delve into the evolution of love in the ‘Before’ films, exploring how Richard Linklater’s poignant storytelling captures the highs and lows of relationships.

The Hidden Structure of Before Sunset

Discover the intricate storytelling techniques used in ‘Before Sunset’, a film that masterfully balances intimate conversations with profound insights into love and life.

✨ Rate