One of the most thoughtful and honest romantic movies I've seen.

Rating: 10/10 (26 August 1999)

I found Before Sunrise by chance when it was first released on video a few years ago. Watching it then, I felt it was a well-written movie and an event that I would one day hope to experience myself. Watching it now as a person in my young/mid twenties, I realize that I've experienced a feeling very similar to this movie: Being independent and actually falling in love.
That experience was brief, honest, and fulfilling, leaving an impression on me that I'll always remember. This film generates those same feelings for me, and watching this movie after my own experience, I can only see myself in Jesse's place, living out my own similar situations.
This movie is one of the finest, most underappreciated (in my opinion) romantic stories of the '90's. It's a very real movie, and it's an accurate portrayal of what it feels like to meet someone who you just instantly "click" with. No gripping score, no dramatic good-bye only to be "surprise" reunited at the end. Before Sunrise portrays all of its messages with the sincere awkwardness of a beginning relationship, a bit of insightful conversation, and two people with similar views and interests finding each other.
Delpy and Hawke don't play stereotypes in this movie. They play people, and that's what makes this film so interesting. The pacing of the film is slow, yet time seems to rush by. These are people you could actually meet. These people could actually be you.
When Before Sunrise ends, there's no contrived, cheesy good-bye, it just ends, which is how life works. It leaves the possibilities open, but not in the way that you could see a sequel being made. If anyone has ever felt like this in a relationship, this movie will never ring truer than it does. For those who have yet to find that bit of spontaneous adventure, Before Sunrise is a good guide of what to look for.
I can't recommend this movie highly enough. An intelligent, inspiring film.