Before Midnight

It has been nine years since we last saw Jesse and Celine, the couple whose chance meeting on a Vienna train sparked years of conversations. Now living in Paris with their twins, they spend a break in Greece at the invitation of Jesse’s writer friend. When the Greek sojourn ends, Jesse must bid farewell to his teenage son who is off to the United States, and the weight of past choices grows heavier. Quiet moments give way to pointed exchanges about love, parenting, and the paths they chose. Their bond is tested as old sparks reappear and new tensions surface, leaving their future together under careful scrutiny without revealing where it will ultimately lead.

Directed by Richard Linklater, Before Midnight continues the trilogy's spontaneous, character driven approach. It uses an original screenplay by Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke, not adapted from any book, and unfolds with a lived in intimate feel. It premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and opened in limited release later that year.

Known for letting conversations stretch and for long takes that feel like real life, the film helped redefine contemporary romance on screen. Its Greece to Paris backdrop reinforces how time and place shape a relationship, turning dialogue into a kind of intellectual theatre, and giving actors room to breathe.

Critics praised the film for its mature look at love, commitment, and aging, with Hawke and Delpy delivering raw, detailed performances. The narrative centers on communication, memory, and the friction of daily life, using intimate dialogue rather than dramatic spectacle to explore a longtime partnership and its challenges. Without relying on big twists, it earns its impact from honesty.

Awards: The film earned nominations from critics groups and international festivals for its screenplay and performances, underscoring the trilogy's reputation for intelligent dialogue and emotional honesty. While not a blockbuster, its accolades reflect the sustained attention the series receives from major critics circles around the world and beyond.