Review of Before Sunrise (1995) by Akash S — 04 Sep 2012

Linklater's 'Before Sunrise' is an important film which released during the American Independent Film Renaissance of the 1990s; creating Cinema's one of the most believable romances.

I have watched this movie over 5 times till now. People may ask why someone would want to watch two people just walking around and talking with each other, within the span of 24 hours?

It's the content of the intellectual and honest conversations Jesse and Celine share, and how they achieve self-fulfillment and self-discovery through one another. The topics and opinions covered in their conversations keep you intrigued and amused throughout the movie. The attraction between them is not just pure lust; it's moreover on an intellectual level. It's the kind of connection we dream of, but we rarely achieve or let it slip away.

Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy so skillfully and amazingly get into the shoes of these amazing characters; they have a sensational chemistry.

Though the movie contains many memorable scenes of Jesse & Celine conversing and exploring the beautiful city of Vienna, there are a few which stand out and make an impression.

- The one in which the two of them play a song in a music shop. They stand and try to listen to the song silently, when sexual tension is clearly lingering between them.

- The one in which a struggling street poet writes, and recites a beautiful & moving poem with a word which Jesse & Celine randomly gave him.

- The climax scene where Jesse and Celine woefully depart and promise to meet each other again on a decided date.

The movie is timeless!

[If y'all like this movie, be sure to watch 'Before Sunset' too; which tells the story of Jesse & Celine's meeting, 9 years after their first meet.].