Before Sunrise

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⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

This was our romantic film of choice for our anniversary this year, a movie I'd never heard of that Jess wanted to watch. I usually dread having to watch romance, but I've also come to realize that despite not enjoying most, some of my favorite movies ever are romance. I think this will be one of the latter.


Boyhood (not a romance) is one of my favorite movies ever, and this movie, also by Richard Linklater, had a very similar feel. I really connect with this guy's work. Boyhood has a few romantic scenes and they have been seared in my mind since I first watched them. Before Sunrise almost feels like a full version of those scenes. Linklater so perfectly captures the magic of young love. Nothing too dramatic happens in this movie, but you connect with these charterers so deeply as they do normal things, and say normal things. You see yourself in each scene, fantasizing living these things out.


This movie takes place in just one night, following a couple having normal(ish) conversations as they get to know each other. It's a pretty bold artistic choice but one that really pays off. They wax poetic a little too often, but that's almost the point. It's two young people that kinda want to impress one another with how smart and how deep they are. The dialogue feels a little corny at times, but it feels perfectly authentic within this context.


I usually side against one member, and even in this movie I admit there is no way I'd fall for Ethan Hawke. He looks pretty grimy, and tries to be too smart and too charming. But again I feel it was almost endearing, and I get the connection between the two nonetheless. Julie Deply is also perfect, and I'd do anything for her, but that's besides the point.


I really just loved this relationship. This movie moved me and I've been thinking of it non-stop for the last 24 hours. I don't want to overstate it, but as the credits were rolling I kinda just felt like this was not only one of my favorite romance films, but one of my favorite movies altogether. I'm not sure everyone will feel the same magic I did, but I hope you all watch it and appreciate the optimism towards love that this movie is putting out there.

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