Before Midnight is, by far, the most realistic, fictional romance I have ever encountered. The first two movies, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, were extraordinary in their own right, telling the beautiful, hopelessly romantic tale of two strangers crossing paths and connecting in precious, unforgettable moments in time. These movies are known for their deep and long philosophical dialogues about life and everything in between, which unfortunately is lost to the mainstream, action-loving crowd.
Before Midnight addresses the realities of what happens when passion boils down to a simmer, and real life barges in. It seemed that Jesse and Celine were indeed a match made in heaven and meant to be together, given their serendipitous and surreal meetings. Their chemistry was enviable and a promising future seemed undeniable. It was almost sensible then, that they should be together in a love that would last forever.
But in this third film, we are given true insight (for those of us singles) into life after the happily ever after. No matter how in love you may have been, it is truly commitment and compromise that holds the marriage together. You may have the most beautiful, wonderful children on the planet, but unmet desires and temptations can lead you astray. And that crummy moment of lust can leave a stain in your marriage forever.
You can possess a steady love for each other, but how do you stoke the dying flame when priorities, work, opposing mindsets, and third parties, all demand equal attention? Something has to give, and if one subscribes to fairytales, divorce appears to be the best option for the next dream come true.
The conversations were profound, startling, and overflowing with revelations and depth. During the movie, I was trying to figure out the significance of their location in Greece. With landscapes of ruins and older, historical sites and artefacts, I knew it was incredibly symbolic, so much so my mind could not reach the depths of it. It must serve as a parallel to their relationship somehow.
In the end, I realized with a start, how perfectly Before Midnight portrays how love grows old. The ruins were once beautiful, grand, and majestic monuments that were held in a kind of reverent awe. Then they fell apart. But, what matters is what is left. Although they are mere shadows and pieces of what they once were, their rich history and significance binds the masses for posterity. Years later, they are still paid homage to.
Love evolves and love always pales after its first brilliant flame. There will be arguments and strife, and there will be much hurt along the way, even in a love that seemed so perfect at first blush. But a love that has lasted for years bears remembering, and a beautiful history so rich deserves preserving. We can never keep each other in all the same ways. There will always be things to let go of when people change, there will always be other, better lives to chase after. Setting aside the self and ego, and trying to find a way to honour that timeless love, is more worthwhile than falling apart in all the wrong ways. In real life, that is as perfect as it gets.
