Films So Good

Even today, few films have captured the essence of human connection and the magic of chance encounters quite like “Before Sunrise.” Released in 1995, this romantic drama directed by Richard Linklater remains a beloved classic that takes place during a fateful meeting between two strangers, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), on a day like today, June 16th.

How we know the date? (spoiler alert)

In the final -the “goodbye” – scene of “Before Sunrise,” Jesse and Celine arrange to meet again in the future. The dialogue suggests that they plan to reunite on December 16th, six months from the day they first met. Therefore, their initial meeting date is indeed the 16th of June. Below is the dialogue from the final scene:

CELINE: It would be a big mistake. But perhaps we should meet in five years.
JESSE: Yeah, think so? Five years?
CELINE: No, no. Five years is too long. It would be more like a sociology experiment. How about one year?
JESSE: Yes, one year. One year? How about six months?
CELINE: But it will be freezing.
JESSE: Okay, we can meet here and then go somewhere else.
CELINE: Okay. But is that six months from now or last night?
JESSE: Last night. Okay. Six months from last night. December sixteenth, six o’clock in the evening, track eleven. It’s a train ride for you, but I got to fly over. But, hey, I’ll be here.
CELINE: Good. And we’re not going to write or call or anything right?
JESSE: Right. But six months.
CELINE: Good-bye.
JESSE: Bye

The film’s success also birthed two equally captivating sequels, “Before Sunset” (2004) and “Before Midnight” (2013), which continue Jesse and Celine’s story at different stages of their lives.

The photo is from the last scene of the film.

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