Love can't be pinned down as an exact science, and we go through life not knowing what is behind the next door, not knowing when love will poke its way into our lives. It can come across our path at anytime, and in anyplace, and that is where the best theme of this movie lies. Two travelers cross paths on a train going across Europe, and instantly they find a spark that could ignite into something great between the two of them. Not wanting the moment of conception within the train to end, the two young adults go on a journey through Venice finding both what they have been looking for, and at the same time discovering something within themselves.

Coming out in 1995, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy took on the roles of the two main characters of the film. It was not a complex story that evolved from their chance encounter, but rather a true-to-life evolving of the relationship between two people who may have found what they have been looking for their whole lives. When I say "whole lives" though, it must be known that they are in their young 20's, so they have yet to see the hardships that life has to offer. Needless to say, when you do come across what you have been looking for, you know it, and you don't want to ever have that moment end. Such a moment existed in the passing of two people in the most unlikely of encounters.

Hawke plays Jesse, an American who is traveling to Venice on his last day in Europe. His story is that he has spent the last few weeks enjoying is train pass, and is winding down the trip that will end with a flight back home the following morning. Delpy plays Celine, who is a graduate student from France, on a return trip from visiting her Grandmother in Budapest. She is taking the train simply because she prefers not to fly, and stumbles across Jesse only because she chose to switch seats at the right time on the train. It brings to mind thoughts of fates, and whether we believe that Jesse and Celine were meant to meet on this train, and were intended to enjoy this brief moment in each others lives.

The film takes place in the few brief hours between their encounter and the following sunrise, but while it is going on, we lose all track of time, and see the beauty that becomes their relationship. Both Hawke and Delpy are great in their simple, but very well developed roles as these two lovers in the night. I was actually transfixed by the how true to life their relationship was, and how moments in the building of their friendship were at times just as awkward as mine have been. Love does come as a surprise to both of them, and even though they are on completely different paths, the film puts them together in one great night that they will never forget.

Before Sunrise is the perfect film for any lover of a romance story that eliminates all of the bells and whistles. The most perfect love story, is one that can stand out on its own, and is not built on the premise of unfolding events, but rather stands on its own. It is something that radiates to everyone around them, and this film does a great job of showing how true these two characters were being to each other. Even though they have just met, the honesty that both expend to each other brings the film an innocent, and incredible quality. I found myself to have enjoyed this film very much, and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre. Hawke and Delpy were both grand in their roles, and by the end of the film, the audience knows the love being shared by the two protagonists.




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD