Richard Linklater's BEFORE Trilogy [Teaser]

Summary

Book Riot - The Podcast: Richard Linklater's BEFORE Trilogy [Teaser]

Release Date: June 24, 2025
Hosts: Jeff O’Neal, Rebecca Schinsky, and Libby Hill
Description: This episode delves into Richard Linklater's acclaimed BEFORE Trilogy, exploring its impact, themes, and the hosts' personal connections to the films.

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Introduction to the BEFORE Trilogy

Rebecca Schinsky and Libby Hill kick off the discussion by introducing Richard Linklater's BEFORE Trilogy, comprising Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), and Before Midnight (2013). They express their admiration for the trilogy's "sense of sensibility" and its exploration of human relationships and personal growth.

Rebecca Schinsky (00:34):

"Our shared admiration for these actors, this sensibility and I think to not a small part of it, the worldview that these movies express and explore and wrestle with."

Libby Hill (00:54):

"Yeah. And I think we've said in the past, either on the pod or just to each other, these movies are the most literary fiction of movies."

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The Literary Nature of the Trilogy

The hosts emphasize the trilogy's literary quality, highlighting how the films focus on dialogue-driven narratives rather than traditional action-driven plots. They compare the conversational depth to that found in literary fiction, underscoring the importance of dialogue as a form of action within the films.

Rebecca Schinsky (01:09):

"Dialogue is the juice. Dialogue is action."

Libby Hill (01:53):

"This is a very like. If the way to your heart is through your brain, these are the movies for you."

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Overview of Each Film

Before Sunrise (1995)

Libby provides a synopsis of the first film, detailing how Ethan Hawke's character (Jesse) and Julie Delpy's character (Celine) meet on a train to Vienna and decide to spend the night wandering the city together. Their fleeting encounter blossoms into a deep connection as they explore Vienna until Jesse's departure the next morning.

Libby Hill (02:06):

"They meet on the train because a German couple are fighting and they do that thing you do sometimes where like strangers are being weird in public."

Before Sunset (2004)

Set nine years later, Jesse is touring with his book inspired by their first meeting, and Celine attends his reading in Paris. Their reunion leads to a day-long conversation about their lives, relationships, and whether they can reconcile their past connection with their present circumstances.

Before Midnight (2013)

Now married and settling into middle age, Jesse and Celine navigate the complexities of their relationship, including questions about their future, familial obligations, and personal aspirations.

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Personal Reflections and First Experiences

The hosts share their personal connections to Before Sunrise, discussing how the film resonated with their own experiences and perceptions during their formative years.

Rebecca Schinsky (03:28):

"I had just been in Europe two summers before as part of an eighth grade trip. And so it feels very familiar."

Libby Hill (03:54):

"The like spaghetti strap baby doll dress with the plaid shirt tied around the waist like, come on, 1995 Fox."

They reminisce about the aesthetic and cultural elements of the mid-90s depicted in the film, noting how certain fashion choices, such as Ethan Hawke's enduring goatee, have become iconic over time.

Rebecca Schinsky (04:01):

"The goatee is forever for Ethan Hawke. And that's okay. He just sort of pasted that thing on there in the early 90s. Been riding it for 30 years."

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Themes and Cinematic Techniques

The discussion delves into the central themes of the trilogy, including idealism, reality, intellectual exploration, and the magical realism of fleeting moments that challenge characters to confront their desires and fears.

Rebecca Schinsky (07:14):

"There is real no equivalent there because it has a deep romanticism in it."

Libby Hill (08:00):

"But yeah, the thing that I love about this is these people moving between like the very mundane sort of getting to know you conversations, the big philosophical like dorm room sorts of what does it all mean conversations."

They compare the trilogy to other relationship-focused films, such as "When Harry Met Sally," noting the unique intensity and immediacy of the BEFORE Trilogy's interactions.

Libby Hill (05:11):

"When Harry Met Sally is spread out over what, 10 years of their friendship that it takes them to get together... But Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have this, like, Jesse and Celine have this, like, one night."

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Impact and Legacy

Rebecca and Libby reflect on the trilogy's indie roots and its enduring legacy despite not being mainstream blockbusters. They commend Linklater for crafting a series that remains timeless and relevant, discussing its influence on both cinema and their personal lives.

Rebecca Schinsky (06:19):

"It was an indie movie. Like, it made 22ish million. I didn't do any of my research before watching because I didn't want to be sullied by anything there."

They also touch upon the changes in film distribution from theatrical releases to streaming, highlighting how the trilogy has maintained its popularity over decades.

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Conclusion

The teaser concludes with Jeff O'Neal inviting listeners to join their Patreon for access to the full episode and additional premium content, promising a deeper exploration of the BEFORE Trilogy and its nuances.

Jeff O'Neal (08:22):

"Have a conversation of like, thanks so much for listening. Join us @patreon.com/bookriotpodcast to hear the rest of this episode and get access to our full back catalog of premium content."

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Key Takeaways

• Dialogue as Action: The trilogy utilizes dialogue as a primary means of storytelling, allowing characters to develop and relationships to unfold naturally.

• Literary Quality: Its focus on conversation and character development aligns the films closely with literary fiction.

• Timeless Themes: Explores universal themes of love, life, and personal growth, making it relevant across different generations.

• Personal Resonance: The hosts share a deep personal connection to the films, highlighting their lasting impact on listeners and viewers alike.

• Cinematic Comparisons: While similar to other relationship-focused films, the trilogy's unique structure and intensity set it apart.

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Notable Quotes:

• Rebecca Schinsky (01:09): "Dialogue is the juice. Dialogue is action."
• Libby Hill (05:11): "It's awkward at first... that's how formative it was."
• Rebecca Schinsky (07:14): "There is real no equivalent there because it has a deep romanticism in it."
• Libby Hill (08:00): "These people moving between the very mundane... and the big philosophical... conversations."

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For a comprehensive analysis and full discussion, subscribe to Book Riot’s Patreon at patreon.com/bookriotpodcast.

Transcript

[Jeff O'Neal]

You're listening to a teaser for Book Riot podcast premium content. If you want to hear the rest, join [e-mail] bookriotpodcast for just $10 a month, get access to our full library of premium content. In addition to receiving early ad free access to the regular episodes you hear in the show. Here we go.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Rebecca. Much like Jesse and Celine, we have no agenda, we have no notes, no itinerary.

[Libby Hill]

Just going to wander together through the.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Three films in the before trilogy that I hope someday is Quadrilogy, Pentology, Whenever in the future we can talk about the end. Our shared admiration for these actors, this sensibility and I think to not a small part of it, the worldview that these movies express and explore and wrestle with.

[Libby Hill]

Yeah. And I think we've said in the past, either on the pod or just to each other, these movies are the most literary fiction of movies.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Yes.

[Libby Hill]

Just people walking around.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Yeah.

[Libby Hill]

Talking about life.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Well, let. We'll get to our first experiences in here. Let's do a broader take about what we like about these. We can maybe do favorite lines or moments. I think what you said, people walk around talking. There's this, there's this quote in Uncut Gems or Adam Sandler is, you know, he, he's betting on stuff and trying to. Trying to get diamonds and like he's in this crazy world where everything is a little bit dangerous and seems frankly like he's got some kind of condition. And he says at some point the action is the juice. And for me, the dialogue is the juice. Dialogue is action. And this is true for me and most of my movie and TV viewing. A little less true for books, but because the sentence can substitute for dialogue. But the dialogue is the juice. That's where I live. That's what I look for.

[Libby Hill]

This is a very like. If the way to your heart is through your brain, these are the movies for you and I guess quickly for folks just in case you haven't seen them.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Thank you.

[Libby Hill]

Before sunrise is 1995. These are both Ethan Hawke and Julie are. All three of them are Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. They are in their early 20s. In this one, they're on a train in Europe. He is supposed to catch a flight the next morning and he doesn't have a place to stay that night. So his plan is just to wander around Vienna all night before he goes and catches his train. They meet on the train because a German couple are fighting and they do that thing you do sometimes where like strangers are being weird in public. And so you make eye contact with somebody of like we see in the same thing. And they strike up a conversation and he asks her to go wander the streets of Vienna with him overnight. And they do kind of fall in love with each other before sunset picks up nine years later. He has written a book inspired by this experience and he's on tour at Shakespeare and Company in Paris Baby, where she lives. And she has seen coverage of it. They haven't spoken since. And she shows up at his reading and they wander the streets of Paris for the day and then before midnight. Spoiler. They've been married for several years and are entering middle age and things are kind of rocky. Where are they going to live? His son is back in the States, their kids together with them in Europe. How's the relationship? Are we going to stay together? Is it going to work?

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Yeah, we can get into a bunch of it too. Let's start with our first experience, especially before Sunrise, the first one, which came out in 1995 at an auspicious age, I think for both of us, probably in our self formation. I had just been in Europe two summers before as part of an eighth grade trip. And so it feels very familiar. The fashion, the style, the ethos. Very familiar.

[Libby Hill]

The like spaghetti strap baby doll dress with the plaid shirt tied around the waist like, come on, 1995 fox chuck.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Tees hold up pretty well. But like that sort of pleatherish jacket over loose jeans. Not so much the goatee and the mock. The goatee is forever for Ethan Hawke. And that's okay. He just sort of pasted that thing on there in the early 90s. Been riding it for 30 years. And as a, as a bookish kid interested in the world and fashioned themselves, well, not fashion themselves, wanted to see the world and see its bigness and strangeness. This is an extremely seductive idea for most people. But I think I was especially subject to it. You know, it's not, it's not. It's a little. It's a Gen Z. When Harry Met Sally or Gen X. When Harry Met Sally is not the worst way to put it with more of a literary twist because they're sitting around falling in love each other by talking through a city.

[Libby Hill]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

But it has a little more intellectual pretension, I think is okay way of putting it. These are, these are people trying, young people trying out ideas and learning and trying to figure out how their idealism can interact with the reality of the world and their own feelings and flaws and the feelings and flaws of another person. And Vienna's amazing Europe's beautiful. Shot correctly.

[Libby Hill]

Beautiful. And there's this intensity because, like, When Harry Met Sally, I think it's an interesting comp, but it's spread out over what, 10 years of their friendship that it takes them to get together. And Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphi have this. You know, Jesse and Celine have this, like, one night. They have like eight hours at a time to really try to express, like, a potent version of who I am and get a sense of a potent version of who you are and like, to. To work in that chemistry. And you can see, like, it's awkward at first in the way that talking to someone you don't know is. Is awkward at first where you're trying to, like. You can see them trying to read each other and trying to gauge, like, the next move to make in the conversation to try to make the impression on the other that they want to make. I don't remember the first time I saw this, which I think is a true mark of, like, that's how formative it was. This has just been in my DNA forever. I didn't start watching it a lot. Like, you know, I don't think I had access to like, a DVD of it until I was in college. And if I had watched it repeatedly as a younger person, this would have been like a very important text.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Yeah, I mean, it's so. It was an indie movie. Like, it made 22ish million. I didn't do any of my research before watching because I didn't want to be sullied by anything there. So I went back and looked like it did quite well given its budget. And so. So all of them did. But these aren't huge movies. I think, like a lot of things in this era, it made its bones on tape. Now we would say it made its bones on streaming. I guess there are things that happen this way. Yeah, because you probably didn't. If you were especially like, you were what, 12? Is that how old you were?

[Libby Hill]

I was 13. 95.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

You weren't flying down to the art house to pick out this movie, you know? You know, you weren't going to go down there.

[Libby Hill]

I'm sure I saw it because someone rented it for.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

I cannot remember the first time I saw this. I don't think I saw it in the theater. I don't think that I did. Michelle and I may have seen it in high school in the theater. I feel like I would have remembered the experience of watching with her in the theater to be.

[Libby Hill]

I feel like you would too, because you'd be like, if you seeing this movie on a date is high stakes, man.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Yeah, it's a little bit like, you know, I don't. There is. There is real no equivalent there because it has a deep romanticism in it. Even as especially the later movies are more grounded in the hurly burly truth of the world. The truth of the world is here insofar as they know already, for example, that they don't want to just write letters and go off because they know they have had some experience of. They have a sense that this is magic and to do something normal with this magic moment will only normalize it. So they're trying to harness that.

[Libby Hill]

That's maybe my favorite thing about this movie. And you kind of teased it on the regular show yesterday that this is yours. No, it's. The second one is mine. Of the three, the second one is also mine. But the thing I love about. I mean, come on.

[Rebecca Schinsky]

Oh, I love it. I'm not saying, you know, this is 1A, 1B.

[Libby Hill]

But yeah, the thing that I love about this is these people moving between like the very mundane sort of getting to know you conversations, the big philosophical like dorm room sorts of what does it all mean conversations, and then the meta moments where they pop out just enough to look at each other and.

[Jeff O'Neal]

Have a conversation of like, thanks so much for listening. Join [e-mail] bookriotpodcast to hear the rest of this episode and get access to our full back catalog of premium content. That's patreon.com bookriotpodcast.