Review of Before Sunrise (1995) by Troy C — 31 Jul 2012

Covering the intricacies of love, the liberating powers of anonymity and the whole nature of male/female relationships in general, the story is about dreams both simultaneously fulfilled and unfulfilled.

Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American of the philosophically cynical Generation X variety, meets Celine (Julie Delpy), a highly cultured Parisian girl traveling home. Striking up a conversation on the train, Jesse convinces Celine to get off in Vienna and spend his last day in Europe exploring the city before he flies out in the morning.

Mutually attracted to one another, the conversation ranges from awkward silence to inane filler to probing questions. As the hours unwind, each opens up to the other; their defenses relaxed by the knowledge of this encounter's temporary nature.

The film is full of these kind of contradictions: that a lack of commitment should produce a sense of security; allowing them to be who they are, or who they wish they were; free to share only what they dare- which is everything. Because, they have both brought definite needs into this moment; needs which the other is able to gradually fulfill.

The sharing brings them close, but is it love? The beginnings of love? Who's to really say? This is the dream that's fulfilled in the romance of the moment, and yet denied by the fleeting nature of the same, for as the relationship becomes more rewarding, the reality of their separate paths comes more and more to the forefront of their minds.

Director Richard Linklater has captured the essence of the budding relationship with its unique mixture of flirtation, doubts, questions and revelations. The dialogue -though complete with vocabulary offensive in usage if not content- is a perfect blend of the trivial, amusing and revealing. Remarkably natural in its delivery, it suggests that the actors were allowed a considerable amount of improvisation around a given framework.

The temporary nature of the encounter is heightened by the spectacular backdrop of Europe: this one-day affair taking place in and around the history contained within the architecture of Vienna.

Along the same lines, Linklater has the couple on the go for three-quarters of the film. Be it by train, trolley or foot, they are constantly moving, seldom stopping. Only when they do stop to rest or get a bite to eat, does the conversation turn more personal, more revealing. It's in these moments that the real connections are made.

The performances are outstanding, with the two leads on the screen together nearly the entire film. Also, there is a wonderful assortment of peripheral characters that the couple meet: gypsies, street poets and artists that help the lovers define who they are.

Like the relationship it portrays ``Before Sunrise'' starts slowly and grows more rewarding as it continues. By the end, it's difficult not to care about these two people who are trying to make a connection last for more than the brief moment that it is. ``Will they meet again?'' is the question that will separate the romantics from the realists at the departure of the show.