Review of Before Sunrise (1995) by Jonathan H — 22 Jan 2013

Sincere. Brave. Honest. These are a few words to describe Richard Linklater's astounding ode to self-discovery. One would be hard-pressed to find a film that so precisely and brilliantly captures the many nuances of relationships and the process of being truly vulnerable in the presence of another.

While films like Rebel Without a Cause and Say Anything tackle similar subject matter, Before Sunrise has the audacity to strip down useless subplots and Hollywood divergences and, to borrow a phrase, get to the heart of the matter.

You almost immediately sense the synergy and the chemistry between Jesse and Celine, and it is simply pure joy to watch them find it. Powerful in its simplicity, and bold in its eschewing of filmic conventions, Before Sunrise (as well as Sunset -- and perhaps Midnight?--) takes its place as one of the best love stories ever told -- undoubtedly Linklater's masterpiece.