In an age when dialogue in movies is often treated as an afterthought, Richard Linklater's Before Sunset is a marvel.

Not only is it a banquet of dialogue, but the speeches are often mesmerizing in their clarity and simplicity.

Before Sunset is the sequel to Linklater's 1995 Before Sunrise where Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American visiting Europe, met Celine (Julie Delpy) a French girl on a train.

They talked and talked, eventually getting off in Vienna where they wandered the city talking some more.

They made love, parted and, in An Affair to Remember kind of moment, promised to meet six months later in Vienna if they felt their passion was real.

It's now nine years later.

Jesse wrote a novel about their day together, which is a minor best-seller and has come to Paris as part of his book tour. As he hoped, Celine comes to the bookstore. He has a couple of hours before his ride to the airport so they decided to go for a coffee.

Linklater's cameras follow them through Paris streets to Celine's favourite bar, lingers with them in the bar and then follows them on another walk and a trip down the Seine.

It's clear Jesse and Celine still have feelings for one another, but are hesitant to express them. It's the thinnest of plot threads, but enough to hang the performances and dialogue on.

It's remarkable how natural both Hawke and Delpy are, especially when they are walking down street,s which is anything but an easy feat. Their exchanges never sound rehearsed or forced and the secretive glances they give one another are beautifully timed.

There's a good reason for the ease with which the actors slip into character. Hawke and Delpy worked with Linklater on the screenplay weaving in parts of their real lives, including Hawke's divorce.

Before Sunset is a little movie with a big impact.

(This film is rated 14-A)

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