Rohmer Film Series: BEFORE SUNSET // RICHARD LINKLATER (2004) // UNITED STATES

Eric Rohmer and his heirs: A cinema of marivaudage

Eric Rohmer, one of the founders of the French New Wave, is mostly known for his delicate comedies of manners immersed in the very French notion of marivaudage (a literary writing style or type of conversation marked by extreme refinement and flirtatious banter). An architect of conversational cinema, where talking is a form of dramatic action, Rohmer has created a unique style—minimalist plots, characters facing moral choices, and the summer—as a surface on which life experiences and the meaning of love are being questioned. In this touching, funny, and spiritually-rich film series curated and introduced by filmmaker Diego Ongaro, we will watch one of Rohmer’s films as well as two contemporary works by filmmakers who have continued his legacy. 

• BEFORE SUNSET // RICHARD LINKLATER (2004) // UNITED STATES, 80 MN

Starring: Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

Jesse and Celine encounter one another nine years after their fateful meeting aboard a European train. Now, they have one afternoon to find out whether their bond has defied time and place and whether they belong together. This is the second installment of the Before Trilogy, in which Delpy and Hawke (who both wrote the screenplay) give a masterclass in acting and chemistry, while Linklater films them meandering through the streets of Paris using long takes. It is not necessary to have seen the first film to enjoy this one. With almost a decade passing between each installment, this film matures with the characters and paints a portrait of love that is searingly intimate and realistic.

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