Before Sunrise

In a vastly different part of my life than the first time I watched this, despite it only being 3 years ago. What an incredible film. It seems so incredibly simple to set a romance film around conversations between two people who just met (positing that all it takes to fall in love is two people who are willing to engage in meaningful conversation with each other), but this film is such an incredibly difficult feat to pull off. There are so many pieces working in motion that lead you to fall in love with both Jesse and Celine as well as falling in love with them falling love that it is legitimately overwhelming. There’s something so real about this film despite being a piece of fiction it is astounding.  There is something about both Jesse and Celine that feels so real. You feel like you see parts of them in you, and you see them in other people. Despite this relatability, they both feel like clearly defined characters and it feels like a small half day snapshot into two people’s lives. You learn things about these people as they open up to each other, and as they open up to each other they make themselves more vulnerable and open to the love they are creating despite the pain they know will come at sunrise. Love is beautiful and wonderful and something you never want to let go, but is incredibly painful when you realize you may have to let it go.  I would’ve been a mess if I saw this movie when it came out without knowing there were sequels.  Double feature with Before Sunset at the Alamo Drafthouse.