Before Sunrise (1995) Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MUcuqbGTxc

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

The best thing about life is when there are days meeting people that can make it all the more special.


PLOT


Before Sunrise begins in a Budapest train where two strangers cross paths, an American man named Jesse and a French woman named Celine. Jesse is on his way back to the States, whereas Celine is heading back to a university to Paris after visiting her grandmother. They get such invested in their conversations of how their lives have made them who they are that Jesse actually invites her to disembark with him to Vienna, which she agrees to it since neither have enough money to rent a room for the night. As they go sightseeing, they continue conversing over their likes & dislikes and end up sharing a kiss at Wiener Riesenrad, which only expands their companionship that they talk about the likes of religion, life, love & Vienna overall. After walking through Donaukanal where they encounter a palm reader and a poet who writes a poem for them off of the word of their choice, ‘milkshake’, they go to a local club and Celine shares how her last relationship ended for loving her boyfriend too much. Jesse would admit he broke up with his girlfriend in Madrid and with his flight home being delayed for two weeks, he’s been killing time roaming Europe with a Eurail pass. When later going to a cafe where they stage fake phone calls, Celine would admit she was ready to get off the train before he convinced her, resulting in him to admit he really wanted to escape from his life after his breakup. As they then admit attraction to one another, aware they might not see each other again, they share a bottle of wine at a park and have another passionate kiss. By morning, with ambiguity of whether they had sex or not, they wake up in each other’s arms before returning to the train station. As Celine reaches he train first, the film ends with her and Jesse declaring to see each other again in six months rather than exchange contact information.


THOUGHTS


If there is anything I love about movies is the way they show how much a blessing it is to connect with strangers. Director Richard Linklater & cowriter Kim Krizan were able to craft the kind of experience that shows you’re not really living unless you take risks and in this case, that can also apply to connection with strangers every now and then. Through beautiful cinematography by Lee Daniel, every frame feels like it matters when it comes to exploring how captivating Vienna is. In turn, we get to follow two people who never thought of seeking a new connection until it happened. Ethan Hawke & Judie Delpy are untouchable together as Jesse & Celine because they’re two individuals who wanted to find a new case of excitement and it comes true when they choose to let spontaneity do the thinking and embrace the temporary. The longer they were together, the more they felt everything was meant to happen the way it does. Knowing they had their setbacks in past relationships, they knew it was best to meet new people to forget of past heartbreak, which worked and then some. They got along so well for their common interest and it led to them becoming soulmates whether you see it that way or not, otherwise they wouldn’t have a trilogy based on the remainder of their relationship that is built off of chance. And every-time they stared at each other throughout that whole day, you just knew the attraction would never fade away. That is why they chose to continue as such once they meet again because they both knew you just can’t be for sure of certain results until you go for it. Things may have not went as planned for them, but the fact they still found each other down the line proves some things are worth gambling. For them it wasn’t love that brought them together, but just chance and if you try that perspective, then that it what makes life special. In short, Before Sunrise is a fantastic romantic drama for just inspiring viewers how to change things up when life gets too predictable. If you’re looking for said inspiration, see this now.