Before Sunrise-A Poetic and Intimate Confersation

With Before Sunrise, Richard Linklater breathes a sense of life into a film that you could boil down to one long conversation. Right from the very beginning, I felt enraptured in the conversation between these two leads as they converse in deep philosophical discussions of life, death, and relationships. There's an incredibly authentic feel to Linklater's writing, as while not without a poetic flourish here and there, the dialogue feels like that of two real, genuine human beings, so you believe that the two are connecting on a deep, intimate, and spiritual level. 

There's also an immense beauty in Linklater's direction. Linklater uses many long takes throughout the film, never to show off but rather to let the viewer sit with these characters as their conversations develop. Linklater also relishes in the very lived-in feel of Vienna, lingering on the beauty of each street corner, bar, or restaurant that the two leads find themselves inhabiting. 

The lived-in feel extends to the way Linklater lingers on different people throughout. Within the deep conversations between the two leads, there's always something going on around them in the foreground or the background, walking by or talking with somebody else. Occasionally, Linklater will even dip into the conversations of other people before going back to the two leads. It makes for a film that feels so beautifully lived-in, relishing in the lives of people we never follow. 

What makes Before Sunrise work, more than anything, is how well Richard Linklater takes the loose style he perfected in the hangout vibes of Dazed and Confused and transforms it into something poetic. Linklater crafts deep insights about life, love, and relationships through one long, intimate conversation between two people, all while relishing in the characters and setting that surrounds them.

Available to Rent or Buy on Prime Video, Apple TV, and more in the U.S