Before Sunrise is a minimalistic visual plot about a couple of strangers meeting on a train, deciding to spend time with each other and eventually falling in love.
The entire show is about their time together as they divulge details about themselves to each other and we learn about their respective characters. The topics are random, places they stroll across Vienna are random and the events that happen are random too yet interesting for the most parts. Buying a wine with a gentleman's agreement, phone call pretending, tram questionnaire, listening to a song in a dedicated booth, palm reader and the poet with a chosen word are examples.
Ethan Hawke as Jesse and Julie Delpy as Céline are bind by an amazing chemistry. Conversations between them just flows with mostly fantastic dialogues, even when there's disagreements. From flirting with each other, sharing their first kiss to ensuring how they will not part by doing the regular, it's beautiful and natural to say the least. This is not to say they do not have their differences. Jesse for example, is a cynic, while Céline sees things on the brighter side with a tinge of logical doubts. You could see how young and stupid they are, and what could be more of a perfect film for a young couple to bask in?
The fact that this is their one and only night stirs the inevitable tension. We don't want these two to leave each other. As the camera cuts to brief held shots to show fragments of the places they've been, we wonder will they ever meet again? We'll find out before sunset.
Jesse: "I feel like this is some dream world we're in, you know?"
Céline: "Yeah, it's so weird. It's like our time together is just ours. It's our own creation. It must be like I'm in your dream and you're in mine or something."
Jesse: "And what's so cool is that this whole evening, all our time together, shouldn't officially be happening."
Céline: "Yeah, I know. Maybe that's why this feels so otherworldly."