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Before Sunrise
1995
Two young people meet on a train and spend a night falling in love in Vienna. Read more
| Starring | Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy |
|---|---|
| Director | Richard Linklater |
| Genres | Drama |
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Before Sunrise
Two young people meet on a train and spend a night falling in love in Vienna.
| Starring | Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy |
|---|---|
| Director | Richard Linklater |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 37 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 07 Feb 2005 Production year: 1995 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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When American slacker Ethan Hawke meets French student Julie Delpy on a train to Vienna, the romantic sparks fly as they spend one eventful night together in director Richard Linklater's exhilarating drama. Announcing his presence as a major talent after grabbing attention with Dazed and Confused, Linklater's understated use of gorgeous Viennese backgrounds, coupled with a smart, funny and touching script, make this ultra-modern romance hip yet timeless. With engaging Hawke and free-spirited Delpy delivering confident chemistry, this contemporary brief encounter is a real winner.
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A conversation piece that has a certain inconsequential charm but cannot sustain itself for the length of the film; the talk is simply not interesting enough.
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Most helpful member's review
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70 out of 75 people found this review helpful
Before Sunrise
Richard Linklater follows his previous offering Dazed and Confused, with a venture into Europe, a Brief Encounter for the Slacker generation. Ethan Hawke plays Jesse, a young American destined to fly home from Vienna the next morning and Julie Delphy plays the ethereal Celine bound for Paris. They meet on the train between Vienna and Budapest, get talking by accident and find there is some mutual attraction. Then, just as the train arrives in Vienna Jesse realises he may never see Celine again, he persuades her to get off the train and spend the next 14 hours with him, arguing that for all she knows he may be the love of her life. As the evening proceeds so their relationship develops; they trade intimate questions, contest opposing philosophies and gradually become captivated with one another. The drama hinges on whether or not they will meet again, for about halfway through the evening, they declare this as their one and only night together. Yet, as Celine and Jesse start to fall for each other, the film teases enough details out for us to realise that keeping this promise would be an act of such stubbornness that it would cause eternal regret.
Linklater may be American, but Before Sunrise is essentially European in its lineage and has little in common with past American films such as Roman Holiday or Three Coins in a Fountain that used Europe to signify something exotic and passionate, the perfect setting for an affair or romantic encounter. Moreover, Jesse and Celine are already wary of love, Jesse`s parents are divorced and he has just been ditched by his girlfriend, while Celine talks disparagingly about her parents lost ideals. For this reason Vienna is a significant setting, it is still a place of history and stories, but is not lumbered with cliched romantic connotations that other capital cities would have. The implication is that Jesse and Celine must provide their own entertainment, they will not be seduced by the city they are in, rather only by themselves. Likewise, the audience is not distracted by the surroundings, as this is far from a travelogue experience; throughout Delphy and Hawke fill the screen in a two-shot, not admiring the view but each other.
Without doubt this is fantasy stuff: an unambiguous setting, the perfect couple, the pure, idealist meeting of minds and souls. The encounters with poet and fortune teller, while devices to illustrate differing character, also hint at how transparent romantic love can be, and how willing we are to believe in it. In one sense it is almost unimaginable that such an absolute scenario would ever happen; but that is one function of cinema and it successfully taps into the dreams of many a young man or woman seeking that perfect liaison. -
Most recent members' review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Brilliant
A simple story starts with a brief encounter on a train. This film depends heavily on the dialogue and acting ability of the 2 leads and, to my mind, pulls it off beautifully. The couple and the film have a very natural feel as they go around Vienna on their date.
Its not a film for everyone but definitely was for me being the hopeless romantic I am. -
News and features
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Hawke to star in, direct and write new movie
- 10 Feb 2006
Renaissance man Ethan Hawke is to direct a film starring himself, written by himself and based on his own novel. The Hottest State will not be the Gattaca and Training Day star's debut behind the camera, after directing Chelsea Walls, which featured Uma Thurman, Natasha Richardson and Kris Kristofferson. Lining up in front of the camera alongside Hawke in the new movie will be Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace), Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) and Laura Linney (Mystic River).... Read more
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Two young people meet on a train and spend a night falling in love in Vienna.... -