I have been spending this month working my way through an ever-growing movie watchlist, but one film has stood out from the rest. A 1995 love story told over the span of one night in Vienna, Before Sunrise is directed by Richard Linklater and co-written by Linklater and Kim Krizan.

The film follows Jesse, played by Ethan Hawke, and Céline (Julie Delpy), who meet on a train and decide to disembark in Vienna to spend one night together before heading their separate ways back to Paris and the US.

The film is inspired by Linklater’s personal experiences after he met a woman named Amy Lehrhaupt in a toy shop in Philadelphia in 1989. The pair walked around the city together, conversing deep into the night, but in 2013, Linklater explained that Lehrhaupt had died in a motorcycle accident before the release of Before Sunrise.

it was not the first time Linklater had collaborated with Krizan, as she had previously appeared in his films Slacker (1991) and Dazed and Confused (1993). Casting for the movie was extensive, taking a total of nine months for Hawke and Delpy to be selected for the roles, which was well worth it considering the chemistry between the pair.

The plot is deemed to be minimalistic, consisting of monologues and extended dialogue between the characters discussing men and women, relationships and hypothetical scenarios. The film’s themes explore differing perspectives on life, love, time, death, self-discovery, and postmodern romance. 

Being the first instalment in the trilogy, the sequel Before Sunset was released in 2004, and Before Midnight, the third film, was released in 2013. It is strange to have sequels so far away from each other, but as the viewer, you are able to see how the two individuals have evolved and what has changed in their lives and romance. The film was met with critical acclaim, mainly for its screenplay, the direction from Linklater and acting performances. Now, the film holds up as one of the greats and its rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes reflects that. One of many reviews labelled it “truly a masterpiece”.

Before Sunrise is available to purchase on Amazon Prime.