Richard Linklater’s ‘Before Sunrise’, simply put, is one of my favourite films.

The film tells such a simple, lyrical story. Two young travellers, french graduate student Celine (Julie Delpy) and American Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meet on a a Budapest-Vienna train. At Jesse’s instigation they get off the train at Vienna and spend the next 14 hours together.Their time together is broken when dawn breaks and Celine has to get back on the train and continue on her travels.

Its so hard to paint a picture of a what a film is like but here goes with ‘Before Sunrise’.
It is a quiet but intensely romantic film. There is a very youthful feeling to the film.
I am sure that this feeling is so strong because of the films’ travelogue nature. As the couple journey around Vienna their time is spent meeting quirky characters, checking out local landmarks, visiting cafes and drinking places, and sharing their thoughts and philisophies of life.It’s an intoxicating ‘recipe’.

Linklater’s production is so well realised. His direction is first class. He manages to give the film such an intimate feeling.
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s performances are exquisite. The quality that comes to mind are that their performances are so natural.
The film hardly feels acted or scripted at all, their relationship flows so well.
So, wrapping up, if qualities of intimacy and naturalness appeal to you in movies, then you are in for a unique, special treat with ‘Before Sunrise’.

(c) David Kary