Before Sunrise

I have a particular gripe with romance films. In that pivotal moment when the characters first meet and start to develop a relationship, I need to be sold and convinced. I can't believe that two characters would give each other their time and attention without any rational reason. I often put myself into the characters and see if I would have initiated a conversation or if I would have accepted the invitation to go on a date. If I'm not convinced, the entire relationship will seem forced and made simply for plot convenience, thus ruining the whole film (Lost in translation :P). I was hard on before sunrise when I started it; the concept seemed too absurd for any rational justification. But oh my god, it defied all the high expectations I put upon it. Jesse was the most charismatic person I've seen in these films. I instantly fell in love with his character. He carried and presented his personality in such an engaging fashion that made him almost immediately likeable, and eventually, in that pivotal scene of him asking Celine to get off the train, I was astonished that I was convinced and essentially agreed with her decision. I still couldn't understand why, but looking back, Celine received and reciprocated his personality so well, and when I put myself in her shoes, I understood all of her motivations. Before sunrise showed me the absolute beauty of meeting someone with whom you share that rare love and desire for. It's almost intoxicating how enchanting their love is. In every conversation they had, I relished the joy ride of their psyches and how their personalities intertwined with each other. Seeing them giggle and appreciate every aspect of each other is just so satisfying. By the end, you feel as if you know them so personally, almost to the point where you feel as if you are them. It's incredibly rare for a film to be about two people walking and talking and still be enjoyable; in retrospect, this film could have become an extremely boring mess. But it isn't, and Instead, you are treated to one of the most beautiful pieces of cinema ever.