Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be honest: Before Sunset is a brilliant film that has absolutely no business being recommended to the vast majority of families with kids.

This is a talky, slow, deeply adult romantic drama about two people in their 30s processing regret, missed connections, and the messy reality of adult relationships. It's critically acclaimed because it's genuinely excellent at what it does—but what it does is create an intimate 80-minute conversation between two former lovers walking through Paris.

For a film-obsessed high schooler or college student, this could be revelatory. For everyone else? It's a snoozefest. The WISE components score reasonably well because the content is wholesome, thoughtful, and enriching—for adults. But the 'watchability penalty' for younger audiences is massive.

If you've got a 17-year-old who genuinely loves arthouse cinema and can handle a movie with zero action, this is a gem. For literally everyone else reading this, skip it and watch something age-appropriate.

Age Fit

Realistically, this is for college-age viewers and up (18+). A very mature 16-17 year old interested in film might appreciate it, but most teens will find it excruciatingly boring. Anyone under 15 will be completely uninterested.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

82

Two adults reconnect through authentic, emotionally mature conversation about life, relationships, regret, and connection. The tone is thoughtful and introspective, modeling genuine communication and vulnerability. No manipulation or toxicity, just real human connection. The pacing is deliberately slow (essentially one long conversation in real-time), which is the opposite of chaotic but may test patience.

Imaginative

71

The film's creativity lies in its structural audacity—an 80-minute conversation shot in near real-time as two people walk through Paris. It invites viewers to imagine roads not taken and parallel lives. However, it's not 'imaginative' in the fantasy/world-building sense; it's grounded realism that sparks philosophical imagination rather than visual or creative play.

Safe

88

This is fundamentally a dialogue-driven drama with no violence, gore, or shocking content. There are mature themes (past relationships, marital dissatisfaction, sexual tension) and likely some mild language, but nothing surprising or traumatic. The sexual tension is verbal and emotional rather than explicit. For a teen audience, this is very safe; for younger kids, it's just irrelevant and boring rather than unsafe.

Enriching

85

Exceptional critical acclaim (94% RT, 91 Metacritic, 8.1 IMDb) signals meaningful artistic achievement. The film offers rich material about communication, authenticity, missed opportunities, and the complexity of adult relationships. It models deep listening and vulnerable conversation. However, its insights are primarily relevant to older teens/adults navigating relationship complexity and life choices.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If you're an older teen or college student interested in film as art, this is a masterclass in dialogue and naturalistic performance
Models what genuine, vulnerable adult conversation actually looks like—rare in media
The real-time structure and Parisian setting create an intimate, almost voyeuristic experience of watching two people truly connect
Critically acclaimed for good reason: it's beautifully written and performed, just not for kids

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What to Watch For

This is an adult relationship drama—themes of marital dissatisfaction, regret, and sexual tension are central
The entire film is basically one conversation; if your teen can't handle slow, dialogue-heavy content, they'll be asleep in 10 minutes
Zero action, zero plot in the traditional sense—this is arthouse cinema that demands patience and emotional maturity

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever wondered about someone you met once and lost touch with? What would you want to ask them?"
"The characters talk about how people change over time. Do you think you'll be the same person in 10 years?"
"They discuss whether it's better to have loved and lost or never loved at all. What do you think?"

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