Before Sunrise (1995)

Before Sunrise (1995), directed by Richard Linklater, is a romantic drama that quietly revolutionized the genre. Set over the course of a single night, it follows two strangers who meet on a train and decide to spend the evening together walking through Vienna. The film is dialogue-heavy, reflective, and deeply human, relying on emotional intimacy rather than dramatic events.

Detailed Summary

Meeting on the Train

Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American in his twenties, is traveling through Europe after a breakup. On a train from Budapest to Vienna, he strikes up a conversation with Céline (Julie Delpy), a French university student returning to Paris. Their connection is instant—intellectually curious, charming, and flirtatious in a natural, non-Hollywood way.

Jesse convinces Céline to get off the train with him in Vienna. He suggests they walk around the city together until his flight the next morning. Céline hesitates but ultimately agrees, intrigued by the possibility of an unforgettable night.

Wandering Vienna

The heart of the film lies in Jesse and Céline’s conversations. They talk about love, death, sex, family, politics, and spirituality as they wander through Vienna’s streets, parks, cafes, and quiet corners. Their dialogue feels spontaneous and authentic—partly because much of it was co-written by Hawke and Delpy with Linklater’s guidance.

The pair encounters locals, including a street poet who improvises a poem based on a word they give him, and they share stories about past relationships and personal philosophies. Each interaction deepens their bond.

Emotional and Philosophical Exploration

What sets Before Sunrise apart is how it explores the idea of ephemeral connection. Jesse and Céline both recognize that this moment in time is finite. Their shared experience is tinged with urgency, giving their conversations more weight. They challenge each other’s views, joke, flirt, and slowly fall into a kind of love—or at least a profound affection rooted in mutual vulnerability.

There’s also a meta-awareness in the film: they talk about the fleeting nature of time, how people remember feelings rather than facts, and how romantic stories are often constructed in hindsight. The film lets silence speak as loudly as words, with long pauses and tender glances doing as much narrative work as any dialogue.

Movie Ending

As morning approaches, reality starts creeping back in. Jesse has a plane to catch, and Céline has to return to Paris. They walk to the train station, both visibly emotional, knowing they don’t want the night to end but unsure of how to proceed.

Jesse suggests that instead of exchanging numbers (which he suspects could lead to disappointment and unmet expectations), they make a pact to meet at the same spot in six months—no phone calls, no letters, no contact. Just show up. Céline agrees, and they promise to meet on December 16, six months later.

They share a final, tender kiss on the train platform, not knowing whether this is goodbye or just a pause in their story. The film ends with shots of the empty places they visited the night before—now quiet and still, just like their time together has become a memory.

There’s no confirmation in the film whether they meet again. That ambiguity is the point. It captures the beauty and heartbreak of a fleeting, perfect moment suspended in time.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Before Sunrise does not include any post-credits scenes. The film ends on a meditative note and lets the credits roll silently, respecting the emotional tone of its final scene. The power lies in the lingering feelings it leaves you with—not in any Marvel-style twist.

Type of Movie

Before Sunrise is a romantic drama with strong elements of philosophical conversation and indie realism. It’s contemplative, dialogue-driven, and avoids the clichés of mainstream romantic storytelling. Think of it as a blend between cinema and spoken poetry.

Cast

• Ethan Hawke as Jesse
• Julie Delpy as Céline

The film focuses almost entirely on these two characters. Their chemistry and natural performances carry the entire movie, and it’s a testament to how little is needed—two good actors, good dialogue, and a city.

Film Music and Composer

The film doesn’t feature a traditional score. Instead, it uses diegetic music, such as a hauntingly beautiful scene where Jesse and Céline listen to “Come Here” by Kath Bloom in a record store—an iconic moment of awkward intimacy. Other featured songs come from lesser-known artists and Viennese street music, adding to the film’s grounded, spontaneous feel.

Filming Locations

The film was shot entirely on location in Vienna, Austria. The city isn’t just a backdrop—it becomes a third character in the film. Its quiet streets, late-night cafes, riverbanks, and public gardens provide an atmospheric canvas for Jesse and Céline’s wandering.

Key locations:

• The record store (Alt & Neu)
• Café Sperl
• Maria am Gestade church
• The Albertina balcony

Each location adds subtle emotional resonance, reflecting the characters’ journey from strangers to something deeper.

Awards and Nominations

• Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival (Richard Linklater)
• Nominated for Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay
• Later sequels (Before Sunset, Before Midnight) received Oscar nominations

Though not a blockbuster, Before Sunrise was critically acclaimed and became a cult classic, eventually leading to two sequels and cementing its legacy as one of the greatest romance trilogies in cinema.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Linklater based the story on a real encounter he had with a woman named Amy Lehrhaupt, whom he met in Philadelphia in 1989.
• Much of the dialogue was improvised and developed collaboratively between Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy.
• The production had a tight schedule—only about three weeks of shooting.
• Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke weren’t famous yet; their natural chemistry was a gamble that paid off.
• They rehearsed for weeks to get the pacing and rhythm of the long takes just right.

Inspirations and References

• Inspired by Linklater’s real-life one-night encounter with a woman he never saw again.
• Influences from European cinema, especially the works of Eric Rohmer and François Truffaut, are evident in the film’s quiet, character-driven style.
• There’s a nod to existential and romantic philosophy throughout the film—echoes of Kierkegaard, Camus, and even Rilke pop up subtly in dialogue.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no known alternate endings or significant deleted scenes released officially. The narrative is tightly structured around one night and doesn’t leave room for many tangents. However, Linklater has mentioned that they shot additional improvisations that were never used.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film isn’t based on a book, but it inspired literary works later. However, the sequels, especially Before Sunset, adopt a more novelistic tone and structure. The trilogy together feels like an unfolding story across three chapters of a book—life in its twenties, thirties, and forties.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The record store listening booth scene.
• The palm-reader scene in the courtyard café.
• The street poet improvising a poem for them.
• The Ferris wheel kiss.
• Their mock phone call pretending to talk to their best friends about each other.

Iconic Quotes

• “Isn’t everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?”
• “You can never replace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful specific details.”
• “I always feel this pressure of being a strong and independent icon of womanhood and not making it look like my whole life is revolving around some guy.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Jesse and Céline mention reincarnation and memory—foreshadowing themes explored more deeply in the sequels.
• The poem by the street poet (“Delusion Angel”) was written by David Jewell, a real street poet in Austin.
• Many of the locations were chosen for their natural lighting and ambiance, not their tourist appeal.

Trivia

• The film’s runtime is roughly the same as the amount of time Jesse and Céline spend together in real time.
• The sequels (Before Sunset in 2004 and Before Midnight in 2013) follow the same characters nine years later, mirroring real time.
• Amy Lehrhaupt, the woman who inspired the story, tragically died before the film was released.

Why Watch?

Watch Before Sunrise if you love intimate, character-driven stories with smart, honest dialogue. It’s a film for anyone who has ever met someone who changed them in just one night, or wondered what could have been. It’s romantic, philosophical, and uniquely real.

Director’s Other Movies

• Before Sunset (2004)
• Before Midnight (2013)
• Boyhood (2014)
• Dazed and Confused (1993)
• Waking Life (2001)
• Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Lost in Translation (2003)
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
• In the Mood for Love (2000)
• Her (2013)
• Once (2007)
• 500 Days of Summer (2009)
• Columbus (2017)
• Blue Jay (2016)