Skip to main content

Before Sunrise



1995
Directed By Richard Linklater
Starring Ethan Hawke and Juile Delpy

Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) have a chance encounter on a train in Europe and spend one night together in Vienna with the knowledge that their paths will never cross again. A conversation between two people from opposite ends of the Earth as they walk the streets of Vienna, that’s all it is. The film shows a complete relationship in the course of one night.

The film maker is nearly invisible in this movie. You never feel like you are being led by anything more than the conversation that our two leads are having. While watching Before Sunrise I thought about conversations between me and my wife. I thought about times when we have been fully engaged and sharing our thoughts.  The film sheds light on a tragedy of modern life, conversations like this should be far more common. They should, but I worry we all have our heads so firmly planted in our cellular devices we don’t look up to take part in the world around us. I for one am tired of competing for attention with Facebook and Instagram. I know I’m not as interesting as whatever has just been posted on Pintrest but the conversation we could be having would bury it. The connection we could be experiencing is what makes life worth living. A life will never be measured by retweets.  

This movie is almost 20 years old but it doesn't feel at all dated.  There is no soundtrack or cell phones that put a time stamp on the film.  In fact when they do talk about how technology has improved their lives and given them more free time they waste it on empty pursuits. And that sentiment rings truer today than it did 20 years ago.

This movie made me miss my wife. I saw her earlier today but we were going through the motions.I’m not sure how engaged with one another we were. I kissed her goodbye and we made each other laugh but this movie made me want more.  I want to take a walk with her soon. Catch up. Ask her about things we never talk about. Not the news of the day, our son or the house but the things that really matter, the things that make her so uniquely her.  Don’t get me wrong I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life wrapped up in conversations like the one in Before Sunrise but I do want to have them more often.


The mark of a great movie in my estimation is how long it sticks with you and I have a feeling this film will stick with me for years to come, or at least I hope it will. 

Popular posts from this blog

Explaining the Ending of MULHOLLAND DRIVE

MULHOLLAND DRIVE is a complex and surreal film directed by David Lynch, known for its non-linear narrative and dreamlike sequences. The ending is open to interpretation and has been the subject of much debate among viewers. Here's a breakdown of the ending: Diane's Dream vs. Reality: Throughout the film, there are two main narrative threads: one follows Betty/Diane's dreamlike experiences in Hollywood, and the other delves into Diane's harsh reality. The ending reveals that the majority of the film has been a dream constructed by Diane Selwyn, a failed actress, as a means to escape the guilt and pain of her actions. Betty/Diane's Descent into Madness: Betty, played by Naomi Watts, represents Diane's idealized self—a hopeful and innocent aspiring actress. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that Betty's story is unraveling, and her identity begins to merge with Diane's. This culminates in the revelation that Betty is merely a construct of Di...

Final Destination Bloodlines Set to Bring Fresh Horrors to the Franchise

The long-running and fan-favorite horror series Final Destination is set to make its return with Final Destination Bloodlines, bringing a new chapter of supernatural terror to the big screen. Scheduled for a theatrical and IMAX release on May 16, 2025, in the U.S. (and internationally beginning May 14), the film promises to continue the franchise’s tradition of chilling premonitions and inescapable fate. The upcoming installment features a fresh ensemble cast, including Kaitlyn Santa Juana (The Friendship Game, The Flash), Teo Briones (Chucky, Will vs. The Future), Richard Harmon (The 100, The Age of Adaline), Owen Patrick Joyner (Julie and the Phantoms, 100 Things to Do Before High School), and Anna Lore (They/Them, Gotham Knights). Also joining the cast are Brec Bassinger (Stargirl, Bella and the Bulldogs) and horror icon Tony Todd, who reprises his role from the original Final Destination films. Todd, best known for his chilling portrayal of the titular character in the Candyman fra...

4K Blu-ray Review: Drop (2025) — A Tense, Tech-Driven Thriller That Mostly Sticks the Landing

In Drop, director Christopher Landon (Freaky, Happy Death Day) crafts a nerve-wracking thriller centered on a devastating dilemma: would you take a life to save the ones you love? The story follows Violet, a widowed single mom attempting to re-enter the dating world after years of grief and recovery. Played with emotional precision by Meghann Fahy, Violet finds herself on a promising first date with the affable and seemingly genuine Henry (Brandon Sklenar) in an elegant, glass-walled Chicago restaurant. But their evening takes a sinister turn when Violet receives a disturbing message via a sleek, anonymous app called DigiDrop: if she doesn’t kill her date before the check arrives, her son and sister will die. What unfolds is a tightly wound 95-minute thriller that feels both classic and timely. The film builds its suspense through confinement, not action. Most of the story unfolds in real-time at their dinner table, creating a pressure-cooker environment that reflects Violet’s psycholo...