The Before saga (Before sunrise, Before sunset and Before midnight) is a trilogy of movies starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
It is the simplest story of two people meeting by chance on a train; this is all you need to create a perfect frame. It is about two different souls whose destiny is intertwined from that magical moment. We only see them in three instances of their lives, divided by the passage of time, and live with them three full days, one per movie. That is about it. There is no need for a plot or for any particular scenery; we listen to their conversations, partake in their interactions and understand their feelings through dialogue (both what is said and left un-said), through gestures and through their eyes. I would argue that these movies represent a master class on acting; Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are able to portray their characters to such an extent that they effortlessly convey their inner dimension and give the viewer a wonderful experience of immersion. Upon considering that several scenes are long takes that go on for even ten minutes at a time, this further emphasizes their skills as actors and always feel spontaneous and in character.
What is even more fascinating in this case is that the movies, just as the main characters within them, are distanced by the passage of time. The first movie came out in 1995, the second one nine years later in 2004, and the last one nine more after that, in 2013. The trilogy was never rushed and, in my opinion, it is easy to appreciate how something that stemmed almost as a passion project (speaking about the sequels) are so well made.
I would give this trilogy a solid 8 out of 10 life stories.