Before Sunrise (1995)

Before Sunrise (1995)

6/10

Starring

Ethan Hawke

Julie Delpy

Directed by Richard Linklater

When you watch Before Sunrise, what you might expect is a thrill ride of a couple running away together. Well, what you actually get is a thrill ride of a couple spending time discussing life and what it has to offer.

I really liked this movie—not just because it’s a drama, which is a genre I tend to enjoy, but because, unlike most movies, it didn’t rely on fast-paced events or side action scenes to keep the viewer watching. The screenplay was good enough on its own, and you’ll love the way the characters develop on screen, going from strangers on a train to friends and then lovers.

Unlike the sequels, Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013), this movie was written by Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan. In the next two films, Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy co-wrote the screenplay together.
The movie serves as a delicious introduction to a follow-up trilogy, as two people try to discover themselves and come to understand each other while discussing life, love, religion, and emotions.

Everything kicked off when both decided to take a chance. I liked the fact that they didn’t make the movie a love-at-first-sight thing, like something you’d see in a Disney movie. It was straightforward—strangers meeting up and hooking up.

The plot is about Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meeting Céline (Julie Delpy) on a train from Budapest and striking up a conversation with her. The conversation started because both witnessed a couple arguing in German. Jesse tried to find out what they were arguing about by asking Céline, who had no clue, and from there, they kept talking until the credits rolled.
Jesse was on his way to Vienna to catch a flight back to the U.S. and asked Céline to join him for lunch (Céline was returning to university in Paris after visiting her grandmother). While having lunch, they talked some more and soon developed a fondness for each other.
When they reached Vienna, Jesse convinced Céline to disembark with him so they could explore their newfound friendship instead of spending the rest of their lives wondering what could have happened. Céline agreed.
Jesse, however, had to catch a flight early in the morning and didn’t have much money on him for them to stay at a hotel overnight. So, they decided to roam around Vienna until morning came and they had to part ways.

Nice movie—go buy it.