Just finished watching both films, and i have to say, this movie redefines what notions you may have about finding your special someone.

Before Sunrise started out with 2 twenty something characters- ethan hawke and julie delpy - meeting on a train, striking a conversation, and with ethan having time to kill, ended up convincing julie's character - celine (lives in Paris) to explore vienna with him until the morning (when ethan's flight back to the US leaves). The film takes you on a trip around venice, with the 2 characters, conversing on basically anything and everything under the sun. There was no pretense, no awkward moments - just 2 people realizing that they only have this time together so they make the most of it. As the film progresses, you learn a little bit of something of each character. You can almost feel how they eventually fall for each other - and when the film ended with both of them promising to meet each other 6 months from their parting, it almost feels like a scene in An Affair To Remember. But of course, the film ended just that way, with the two soulmates promising to meet again to explore their feelings for one another. The film ended on the hope - the promise of young love that things can happen again.

Before Sunset takes up the story after 9 years, where we find Ethan's character - Jesse - having a book tour in Paris. We then find out that Jesse is now a published author who wrote a novel about his and celine's one night in vienna. Of course, for the movie to move along, Celine drops by the bookstore. They have the rest of the afternoon to catch up with each other since Jesse has a plane to catch. And so, we once again follow them on their journey, this time around Paris - at least the lesser known out of the way places.

From then on, most of our questions about whether or not they met again that fateful day as they had promised, did they still set off the same sparks with one another, did they move on with their lives, were answered. The same thought provoking dialogue is there. The same feeling that you were with them on their journey persists, and you actually feel for them, when they tell each other how much that night affected both of them, and you can see how much they wanted to show one another how they still feel but can't due to their situations.

The film ended in such a way that made you think... finding that special someone is only bound to happen at least once, and when it does, you have better grab on to it. otherwise, you might only get memories.

Both films will probably not appeal to most people since both movies are basically pure dialogue between the 2 characters. It did not depend on the usual conflicts of jealousy or misunderstanding like other romantic films uses. However the dialogue between them will stay with you for quite a while since it explored all notions about romanticism, how people idealize something that happened only once that affected them for years (shades of Wings of the Dove). That the best way to get to know one another when you do find that special someone, is really to talk to one another honestly and sharing opinions.

As for me, i want to go to Europe, get a Europass and ride a train...... maybe i'll strike a conversation with someone who will eventually turn out to be my soulmate...