Before Sunrise

⭐ 8.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

This is a really self-contained romance, 2 people meeting on the train, deciding to spend a couple unplanned hours together, and then falling in love. I was charmed by the beginning, exhausted by the middle, and then moved by the ending.

The setup is cute, and their chemistry is hard to deny. It feels like Hawke's character dominates conversation, but Delpy opens up later in the movie, and that felt realistic to me, the guy trying to impress. I found the 45 minutes after this scene tiring and I was rolling my eyes a bunch. They are clearly trying to impress one another with their worldviews, sounding intelligent and having thoughtful opinions on big topics, but no one talks like this. They are both well travelled and smart people, it just seemed overwritten and too high-minded. I get that that is maybe even the point, but I was bored and Jess fell asleep. I do think their reactions during these long takes felt realistic, and I was impressed with the realism of the settings and camera work.

So Jess fell asleep and I watched the last 40 minutes and really liked them, so once she woke up we right away rewatched that chunk. The scene where they are role-playing themselves calling their friends and describing the circumstances was very charming, and the first scene that felt real to me. It was cute but not over the top, and it felt like they were finally letting each other in. As an aside, I can't say I find Delpy super attractive, but then night fell and I saw her in the moonlight and I changed my mind. Weird.

The ending is what sold me on this movie, with a farewell that put in a knot in my stomach having felt the long distance struggle of not knowing when you will see a person again. But talk about a movie that would not work with cellphones! That's another point for this movie, feels like lightning in a bottle in terms of timing. But ya, them trying to pull away from each other felt so genuine and emotional for me that my 7 stars turned into an 8, and I will for sure be watching the sequels.