The Kierkegaardian Existentialism of the 'Before' Trilogy - Part One: Before Sunrise

The Original Article: doi.org/10.3366/film.2021.0164
Part Two on 'Before Sunset': • The Kierkegaardian Exi...
Part Three on 'Before Midnight': • The Kierkegaardian Exi...
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This three-part series of video essays examines the Kierkegaardian existentialism set in motion by Richard Linklater’s ‘Before’ trilogy. In this video essay, part one, I focus on ‘Before Sunrise’ and discuss the differing existential states of the trilogy’s enduring couple, Jesse and Céline. In doing so, I also establish the key aspects of Søren Kierkegaard’s philosophical project that the film grapples with.
Timecodes:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:57 Kierkegaard’s Spheres of Existence
00:05:18 The Aesthetic Immediacy of Before Sunrise
References:
• Bataille, G. (1956/2010). Madame Edwarda, Le mort, Histoire de l’oeil (J. J. Pauvert, Ed.). 10/18.
• Cross, A. (1997). Neither either no or: The perils of reflexive irony. In A. Hannay & G. D. Marino (Eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Kierkegaard (pp. 125-153). Cambridge University Press.
• Evans, C. S. (1983). Kierkegaard’s Fragments and Postscript: The Religious Philosophy of Johannes Climacus. Humanities Press International.
• Evans, C. S. (2009). Kierkegaard: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
• Kierkegaard, S. (1843/2004). Either/Or: A Fragment of Life. (A. Hannay, Trans.). Penguin Books.
• Kierkegaard, S. (1843/1983). Fear and Trembling/Repetition. (H. V. Hong & E. H. Hong,Trans.). Princeton University Press.
• Kierkegaard, S. (1846/2009). Concluding Unscientific Postscript to the Philosophical Crumbs.(Alastair Hannay, Trans.). Cambridge University Press.
• Kierkegaard, S. (1849/2004). The Sickness unto Death. (A. Hannay, Trans.). Penguin Books.
• Kinski, K. (1988). All I Need is Love: A Memoir. Random House.
• Lippitt, J. (2000). Humour and Irony in Kierkegaard’s Thought. Macmillan Press.
• Pattison, G. (1997). Art in an age of reflection. In A. Hannay & G. D. Marino (Eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Kierkegaard (pp. 76-100). Cambridge University Press.
Films:
Before Sunrise (Richard Linklater, 1995) amzn.to/38714PW
Before Sunset (Richard Linklater, 2004) amzn.to/3P6cggc
Before Midnight (Richard Linklater, 2013) amzn.to/3FrTRGe
Letter From an Unknown Woman (Max Ophüls, 1948) amzn.to/3wal9MZ
Line Illustrations by Mia Louise
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[@heyimolivia]

There’s a section of the before sunrise script that that wasn’t in the movie where Celine speaks about the difference between a “life examined” and a “life experienced” and she says “Maybe if I had none of these stupid artistic pretensions at all, I would be looking at the world differently”. If you haven’t read it before I’d really recommend it. It completely aligns with everything you’ve pointed out.

[@ZacharyXavier]

Thanks for pointing that out, Olivia! I haven't read the script - I'll try to get around to reading it one day.

[@Izual_Rebirth]

Thanks for making this video. Keep up the good work 👌

[@TheMikeyPat]

Great insights, thanks. On my way to Part 2.

[@jessica.f3054]

Great video! thank you so much for this💙

[@five5100]

Today i discovered your channel. Your videos are awesome man. Keep make them ❤️ Just one complaint tho; audio quality.

[@kroissant5601]

Brilliant video! Thank you for organizing and presenting these ideas in such a clear way! Makes me appreciate philosophy even more!

[@ZacharyXavier]

Thank you for the kind words 😀

[@redrumthebum]

you managed to combine two of my favorite things in the world! thank you :)))

[@ZacharyXavier]

Happy to hear it!

[@madeOfStone319]

Jesus this all flies over my head but appreciate the effort. I hope crowd's of philosophy bods find this video

[@jillshah5501]

Brilliant!

[@ZacharyXavier]

Thanks Jill!

[@kemichong5864]

ur channel is treasure！

[@ZacharyXavier]

Thanks Kemi!

[@hafiz7611]

Your voice is so soothing holy shit

[@thegrapecitymedia6740]

wonderful 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@ZacharyXavier]

Thanks!

[@Cinephile..]

Liked and subscribed

[@ZacharyXavier]

Thanks!

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

One thing I noticed about Jesse is that he is quietly controlling and passive aggressive. That’s why Celine eventually finds him unbearable by the third movie. I think you captured that very well in this analysis.

[@marcorubensvillanueva6134]

this is deep as fuck