Before Sunrise (1995, Richard Linklater) – Classic Film Review 857

Co-writer/director Richard Linklater’s wonderful, magically romantic 1995 drama stars Ethan Hawke as Jesse, an American tourist in Europe who meets a French girl Céline (Julie Delpy) on a train.

Jesse talks Céline into alighting at Vienna and making the most of every second of his entire last night in Europe together, so they can connect.

Linklater’s movie is just 101 minutes of conversation. Virtually nothing happens. But it‘s bravura stuff, with marvellous, truly affecting performances by the two mesmerising stars. They have the entire movie to themselves and portray tentative but passionate feelings to perfection. It’s maybe not for all tastes. People who don’t enjoy good conversation and high emotion may reject it. But it’s a gem.

Much kudos to Linklater but also to Kim Krizan, who is Linklater’s co-writer.

Sequels: Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013).

http://derekwinnert.com/before-midnight-film-review/

http://derekwinnert.com/dazed-and-confused-1993-richard-linklater-classic-film-review-856/

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 857 derekwinnert.com