Before Sunrise (***1/2)
review by Jon Waterman

Jesse meets Celine on a train in Europe. He’s traveling to various places on a low budget. She’s a student heading back home. They get to talking and talking and they keep talking until its time for him to get off in Vienna. It’s here that he thinks of a crazy idea. She should get off with him and spend his last night in Europe exploring the city together. She agrees and the movie carries on from there.

Director/co-writer (along with Kim Krizan) Richard Linklater, best known for “Slacker” and “Dazed and Confused,” is back again with another intellectually stimulating film. What I like about Linklater is that he can work with different formats and genres yet still make the piece his own. “Slacker” was more of a leaf flowing through the wind type of thing. “Dazed” took the high school movie thing to a different place. “Before Sunrise” works with just two characters talking for 105 minutes. He takes a potentially Hollywood love story, and, through his approach and style, gives it back to those sick of the formula.

The film is filled with long takes that essentially comprise their own scenes. You subconsciously know the setting is going to change once you see an insert shot or a cut away. Most of the time both characters share the screen space. This allows the viewer to analyze either of them at any time. You can see how Celine reacts to Jesse’s thoughts on relationships and love and vice-versa. Even though the template of the conversation carries throughout, we are treated to the beautiful city of Vienna in the background as the two walk and explore. The city isn’t just background, it fuels the discussion and works as a character itself, surrounding them and forcing them closer together.

I enjoyed the acting as well. Ethan Hawke (Jesse) and Julie Delpy (Celine) both speak fluently and naturally. I’d be hard pressed to find a moment where it looks like they’re working off a script. Their acting makes it look like a well documented encounter rather than a fictionalized account of one. You can see the interest in each other grow and their relationship to one another builds from avoiding regrets by leaving the train to something deeper and more tangible. It’s very romantic and soothing to watch something form from nothing in front of your eyes.

I know the film is conversation heavy, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. Obviously if you know you aren’t interested in philosophical questions and exploring human nature, then you’d know to not bother with the film. But if that idea intrigues you, then give the movie a shot. You probably won’t agree with everything said, but it will at least get you thinking and maybe it’ll spur some discussions of your own.

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