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Human relationships are complicated; whether you're rebuking your parents, dealing with your siblings, or trying to understand your partner. A lot of people go through their lives never understanding their loved ones, or what's worse, never making the effort to listen, to understand, to try to connect with the other person. That's the focus of this romantic drama from Richard Linklater where two strangers try to make the best of the little time they have together, and try to share their secrets, and understand the other.
Before Sunrise follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), two complete strangers that meet on a train in Europe. After a brief conversation where they develop a connection, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna, and they spend the night walking around the streets getting to know each other, talking about a variety of topics, while also sharing stories about their lives.
This is only the third Linklater film I've seen (the others being Dazed and Confused and School of Rock), but like with those two, he excels in creating a casual and organic environment where actors feel like real persons. Kudos also to Hawke and Delpy, who completely inhabit their characters, pretty much improvising most of the dialogue. It is on their shoulders that the strength of the film lies. If you can't connect with Jesse and Celine, the film would probably be worthless.
Through their conversations, you see Jesse and Celine's longing for understanding. As they open up to each other, they end up revealing many secrets and emotions, and you end up believing that relationships shouldn't be that complicated, if we are open with each other. By the end, even if they don't end up together, you believe this "adventure" was worth the "attempt". Just like them, Linklater took a bold step with a film that consists mostly of two people talking with each other. It's up to you to decide if it was worth the "attempt". It was for me.
Grade:
BEFORE SUNRISE
(1995, Linklater)
(1995, Linklater)
"If there's any kind of magic in this world... it must be in the attempt of understanding someone, sharing something. I know it's almost impossible to succeed... but who cares, really? The answer must be in the attempt."
Human relationships are complicated; whether you're rebuking your parents, dealing with your siblings, or trying to understand your partner. A lot of people go through their lives never understanding their loved ones, or what's worse, never making the effort to listen, to understand, to try to connect with the other person. That's the focus of this romantic drama from Richard Linklater where two strangers try to make the best of the little time they have together, and try to share their secrets, and understand the other.
Before Sunrise follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), two complete strangers that meet on a train in Europe. After a brief conversation where they develop a connection, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna, and they spend the night walking around the streets getting to know each other, talking about a variety of topics, while also sharing stories about their lives.
This is only the third Linklater film I've seen (the others being Dazed and Confused and School of Rock), but like with those two, he excels in creating a casual and organic environment where actors feel like real persons. Kudos also to Hawke and Delpy, who completely inhabit their characters, pretty much improvising most of the dialogue. It is on their shoulders that the strength of the film lies. If you can't connect with Jesse and Celine, the film would probably be worthless.
Through their conversations, you see Jesse and Celine's longing for understanding. As they open up to each other, they end up revealing many secrets and emotions, and you end up believing that relationships shouldn't be that complicated, if we are open with each other. By the end, even if they don't end up together, you believe this "adventure" was worth the "attempt". Just like them, Linklater took a bold step with a film that consists mostly of two people talking with each other. It's up to you to decide if it was worth the "attempt". It was for me.
Grade: