The Film
Let’s just get this out in the open right from the start: I cannot pull off a turtleneck the way that Ethan Hawke can. Not even during my youngest, most handsome days could I have made that work well enough to get any lady to talk to me on a train, let alone one as beautiful and charming as Julie Delpy. Hell, I’m not even sure Ethan Hawke, with his official 90’s goatee, haircut, and leather jacket, is handsome enough to win the heart of Julie Delpy. Yes I do realize that he was the “it” male actor for those wanting something sensitive and artsy, and as much as I enjoy his film output he’s just not worthy.
But you gotta admire his character.
Even if they won’t admit it, most of us who enjoyed our late teens/early twenties in the 90’s wanted to be Ethan Hawke, at least just a little. Just take a look at Reality Bites (which I will later) and notice that this absolute jerk/waste of a dude somehow manages to win the heart of Winona Ryder! And here he is doing the same with an elusive French girl! Damn your charming smile and turtleneck Jesse!
I’m not ashamed to admit I wanted to follow in his footsteps. After a rough Freshman year at college, and a soon to be even rougher sophomore year, the idea of running off to Europe to backpack around and ride the train was something that I could only dream of. My summer job at the shoe store, complete with it’s $5 wage, wasn’t going to be funding a flight, let alone transcontinental travel. But I dreamed of it. I was going to pack as light as possible, tshirts, jeans, and of course a copy of Kerouac or something equally as pretentious, and off I would go, most likely to be disappointed because at that time I could barely talk to strangers, let alone those speaking a foreign language. Had I actually taken that chance I would’ve either had a life changing trip or the worst time ever.
Jesse, as played by the aforementioned dreamy Ethan Hawke, had no such issues taking chances. He’s on the last leg of his trip, a train from Budapest to Vienna, and there he spots Celine. Somehow through the magic of only his words he’s able to convince her to spend the night with him walking through the city before his flight leaves in the morning.
And therein lies the magic of Before Sunrise. Richard Linklater wrote and directed a fairy tale for the 90’s, where all it takes is a moment, a chance taken, and a connection to have a night that never wants to end, but inevitably will. And like the characters, who enjoy their fleeting time together, we hope for it to continue because on this unlikely night we’ve somehow gotten to know them. We want to see their story continue because fairy tales aren’t supposed to end with the prince promising to return in six months. It breaks our heart a little because if these two can’t figure it out how the hell are we supposed to?
But this beautiful film, which thankfully for us all kick starts the most unlikely of trilogy, gives us the hope that is sadly usually only given to the young. It’s highly unlikely that Jesse and Celine would ever see each other again, that they’d likely only ever be a story they told their friends, but because we were able to share this night with them, we can’t help but believe.
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Supplements
Picture: a 2K Digital transfer, approved by Richard Linklater
Sound: a 2.0 DTS-HD Master
Special Features:
The Space in Between: a 2016 filmed talk between Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy, moderated by film critic Kent Jones. It’s incredibly informative, as Linklater is always willing to talk about his career and the production history of the film. Hawke and Delpy add their thoughts and insights to the process, which not only covers this film, but the other two films in the trilogy. (44 minutes)
Behind the Scenes: a short archival piece where Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy, discuss the budding relationship between Jesse and Celine. (6 minutes)
3×2: A Conversation: Linklater and film writers Dave Johnson and Rob Stone discuss the film as well as the two sequels. (40 minutes)
Booklet: a 32 page booklet (which is included with Sunrise when you buy the Before Trilogy) that includes an essay by Dennis Lim
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
