Before Sunrise (1995) review
Rated 5/5
Comedy, Drama, Romance · Directed by Richard Linklater · 101 min
618 reviews · 1,544 films logged · 159,192 words
<blockquote>If there’s some kind of magic in this world, it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something</blockquote>
I am quite sick and have a mild headache. I tried starting two different movies but could not finish either. I just do not have the energy, so I rewatched this light and romantic film to feel good.
What surprised me on rewatch, especially now that I have seen the whole trilogy, are the little details. It is just funny that it opens with the German couple fighting. It feels like a foreshadowing of what happens in the third movie, and with the “losing the ability to hear each other” trivia, it fits right into their future.
I also noticed how Celine talks about her father shaping or limiting her ambitions. Fast forward to the third film, and she is frustrated with Jesse for doing almost the same thing, trying to influence her choices when she lands a new dream job.
And the “time travel” speech of Jesse turned out to be like a therapeutic thing when they grew up. Sort of a reminder of what used to be love when they were young and what they loved about each other. Some sort of a reminder of what love felt like when everything was still simple.
And it is just so funny that they really were not able to watch the Indians looking for the cow play.
I giggled more than I should have during the listening booth. I can literally feel the electric energy in such a cramped space. And the first kiss, I can literally feel their (and mine) heart beating.
I think it is beautiful when Jesse said he would rather excel at something than have a nice caring relationship. It is because fast forward to Before Midnight, it flips.He ends up with a boring career but chose to have a loving and caring relationship with Celine. And it is accompanied by Celine saying “if there’s some kind of magic in this world, it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something”. That is exactly what they keep trying to do as they grow older, even when it gets messy. like when Celine said earlier that there is some good in conflict.
With the amount of impact and the infinite number of rewatches I would want, I will have to bump this up from 4.5 to 5 stars.
Earlier take, 2026-04-12 · ★★★★½
The tram ride is one of the most authentic and warm scenes I have ever watched. It feels very sincere. Two free spirited and curious soul, just talking and listening. That feeling when you like someone and you are excited to share everything you love, parang ayaw mo matapos yung usapan as if you have all the time in the world.
Another standout is the restaurant scene where they pretend to call their friends. It's like they are saying what they really want to say to each other, but in a cute and indirect way.
This film really captures that raw stage of getting to know someone. Natural, not forced. No obvious flirting. Just two people genuinely connecting and talking about life, big ideas, and everything in between.
Julie Delpy has such a unique and beautiful face. Seems like a mix of Lisa Kudrow and Lisa Vicari. I was simping the whole film! I love her gummy smile, small teeth, and even her windblown hair.
My experiences with this director was School of Rock and Blue Moon, and I remember a lot of talky scenes there. I can feel the same approach here, but the banter is way better. The acting also sells everything. Their attraction and longing feel very real.
By the end, I noticed how the places they visited during the day do not feel the same as they do at night.
I think this is the kind of vibe Lost in Translation tried to capture, but for me this one just feels more genuine and complete.