Writer/Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and John Sloss
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Hollywood are as celebrated as Ethan Hawke. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Hawke has become one of the best actors in the film industry. Whether it’s lovers, poetic professors or corrupt police officers, he has portrayed many strong characters through a lasting career. Arguably, Hawke’s strength as an actor has always been realism. He is one of those rare actors which has always excelled at playing realistic characters which feel like real people rather than caricatures. Hawke is one of those actors that has always come across as a genuine celebrity without vanity. Through his ability to portray strong characters that are compelling, Hawke has created a legacy that is enduring. Despite fact that he has reached an age of retirement, Hawke has scarcely lost passion for making compelling entertainment. Throughout a long-lasting career, Hawke has created many unforgettable movies which are worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Ethan Hawke and adore all the films he has made in his career. However, “Before Sunrise” definitely stands out as my favourite. Ever since its release back in 1995, Hawke’s movie has stood the test of time as a captivating romantic classic. Packed with bold production-design, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the best romantic movies ever made. At the centre of it all are a pair of great performances from Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who portray a pair of soulful people that are in love. Ultimately, what makes “Before Sunrise” a masterpiece is its message. The movie delivers a profound message about a nature of love that would definitely resonate with everyone. Unlike most movies made in the 1990’s, it has aged beautifully over time with a message that remains relevant. A mesmerizing romantic masterpiece, there are several strong reasons why “Before Sunrise” is a movie which is worth seeing.
Set in Vienna, “Before Sunrise” tells a story of a couple that falls in love on a train journey in Europe. Ethan Hawke portrays Jesse, a soulful writer that loves to reflect upon his life. Jesse’s life forever changes when he falls in love with a girl on his train journey to Vienna. Celine (Julie Delpy) is a charismatic woman with dreams of her own which holds strong views on romance. Despite their differences in nature, Jesse and Celine immediately fall in love with each other in a romance which they think will last forever. Jesse and Celine spend an unforgettable day together in the city of Vienna. However, their relationship is threatened by separate paths in life. Facing a dilemma, Jesse questions if he would ever have the chance to be with a girl which shaped his persona. Forced to bid sad goodbyes to lovers, Jesse wonders whether he would ever find romance in European countries before sunrise.
Richard Linklater is fascinated with the themes of romance. Before he made “Before Sunrise”, Linklater had established a successful career by making romantic movies. His previous film “Dazed and Confused” examined the doomed romantic relationships between teenage lovers which feel dazed and confused. With “Before Sunrise”, however, Linklater made his first ever romantic drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the romantic relationships between lovers spending short time together, but he succeeded tremendously. Using strong cinematography, Linklater captures romantic relationships among a pair of lovers spending time together in European countries. Linklater effectively uses long takes to capture strong bonds between lovers spending time in Europe together. Throughout the movie, Linklater uses immersive long takes to capture the bonds of a couple walking and talking. For instance, long takes elevate the circus parties scene. During this memorable scene, Jesse and Celine spend valuable time bonding together by waking and talking in a park. One admires long takes that capture bonds between commemorated lovers. Long takes are tricky techniques to utilize in movies. As Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” suggested, long takes elevate classic gangster movies. Nevertheless, it worked tremendously in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Linklater captures the commemorated bonds between lovers that seek meaning.
Another admirable aspect of “Before Sunrise” is the production-design. Linklater is one of those filmmakers that has always excelled at using locations to capture the bond between lovers, and “Before Sunrise” is definitely no exception. Linklater successfully uses real-life locations across Vienna to capture the bonds of a couple facing a dilemma. Throughout the film, locations in Vienna represent a symbol of the enduring bond between Jesse and Celine. For instance, the real-life locations elevate the Ferris wheel scene. During this unforgettable scene, Jesse and Celine have their first kiss in front of a ferris wheel at a carnival in Vienna. One admires real-life locations showcasing a powerful bond between lovers. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. Fred Frith’s music is integral towards the success of the movie. It gives the film a heartfelt atmosphere capturing commemorated romantic relationships that are doomed to experience despair. Through fantastic production-design, Linklater captures romantic relationships that decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Before Sunrise” is a romantic classic which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses natural dialogue to capture the bonds between lovers. Linklater’s strength as a screenwriter is his abilities to capture the relationships between lovers spending a night together through natural dialogue. One of the defining characteristics of Linklater’s movies is strong sense of realism. Linklater has aptitude for using natural dialogue to create compelling romantic relationships, and his strengths as a screenwriter are absolutely evident in “Before Sunrise”. For instance, the naturalistic dialogue elevates the bus scene. During this memorable scene, Jesse and Celine have a conversation in a bus discussing personal issues about their lives. One admires natural dialogue capturing bonds between lovers. Through the ingenious use of natural dialogue, Linklater crafts a pair of compelling lovers that audiences can easily relate to. Natural dialogue is a tricky technique to employ in romantic movies. As Linklater’s “Boyhood” suggested clearly, natural dialogue elevates movies about adolescence. However, it worked immensely in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Linklater demonstrates romantic relationships that come with a price to pay today.
One appreciates astounding performances.
Ethan Hawke delivers one of his finest career performances as Jesse. Hawke first achieved appreciation for playing rebellious students in schools. With “Before Sunrise”,’ however, he took on his most romantic role. It isn’t simple to portray a man falling in love with a woman in a short-term relationship but Hawke succeeded immensely. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and fully committed in his most emotional role. It’s a role which gave the actor opportunity to showcase his aptitude playing romantic characters. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures bravery, courage and reckless nature of a man which is madly in love. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated actors that work today.
Julie Delpy is dazzling as a woman engaging in a short-term romance with a man in European counties. While Hawke gets the showier role, Delpy is equally excellent as a woman madly in love. Delpy is one of those actresses that has always had a strong screen presence. She has the ability to communicate emotions without a single word, and her strengths are showcased in “Before Sunrise”. Whether she is cheerfully flirting with Jesse or mourning past romantic affairs that ended abruptly, Delpy captures a charismatic nature of a woman in love. Working alongside Ethan Hawke, Delpy creates a romantic relationship that’s compelling. It’s an exceptional performance from one of the best actresses working today.
Fans of Ethan Hawke will definitely appreciate “Before Sunrise” and so will movie-goers seeking heartfelt entertainment. A captivating romantic classic, it celebrates a legendary actor that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Finally, “Before Sunrise” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing romantic relationships with which audiences empathize. Unlike most romantic dramas, the movie tackles commemorated themes everyone would relate to. The film tackles profound themes of identity, time and marriage which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be American in identity to appreciate the movie. It delivers a strong message about the nature of love which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Before Sunrise” is one of those rare one-of-a-kind romantic movies which everyone would be able to adore.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about lovers engaging in an intimate romantic relationship in European countries before sunrise, it’s a riveting reminder about an actor that has gained a huge fan following through his aptitude for portraying compelling characters with whom audiences can easily empathize whose timeless movies are definitely worth celebrating for their abilities to surprise.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 