Before Sunrise (1995)

Before Sunrise (1995) is an intimate, dialogue-driven romance about two strangers who meet on a train and decide, on a whim, to get off together in Vienna and spend one night wandering the city. Over the course of a single evening and early morning, Jesse, an American traveler, and Céline, a French student, move through cafés, parks, bridges and quiet streets while sharing candid conversations about love, life, family, memory and the chances that bring people together. The film is spare and naturalistic: you experience the chemistry between the two leads up close, as if eavesdropping on a private emotional journey rather than watching a conventional plot. Visually it trades big gestures for small moments — the glow of streetlamps, passing trains, and long takes that let the conversations breathe — and emotionally it’s wistful and hopeful but tinged with the ache of impermanence. Watching it feels like a late-night walk with an engrossing companion, full of wit, tenderness and philosophical sparks; by the morning you’re left pondering how fleeting encounters can change us and whether fleeting love can become something more. Fans of character-driven films and quiet romances will find it deeply affecting.

Actors: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert

Director: Richard Linklater

Runtime: 101 min

Genres: Drama, Romance

7.4 /10 79 /100 8.1 /10 7.8 /10