Best movie ever: 'Before Sunrise'

Still my favorite movie ever. Wow, 20 years ago. I still get butterflies just from watching it. Being 20 again and traveling on a train through Europe with Ethan Hawke. A dream.

Not only is Ethan super cute, he also says the right things at the right time. And always with this unbelievable sympathic grin and ease but also tiny bit of doubt and self consciousness that makes him vulnerable and relatable and sexy.

I feel like this film was made for me. If I would have to come up with a movie, it would be exactly like 'Before Sunrise'. It's this kind of romance and understanding, exploring another person and a new space, creating these deep connections, mixed with the randomness of the strangers (and their reactions) they run into in this beautiful, quirky city. It's so artful to see all the love to detail about the locations and these raw dialogues, I can't believe someone just made these up for the movie. I expect part of it was probably improvised by Julie and Ethan. Just unbelievable.

I am not kidding if I say this is my favorite movie ever. I even visited some of the movie locations in Vienna (like the 'Schallplattenhandlung Teuchtler' - just not with Ethan (but newly dating future husband, which was very nice, too). I don't know exactly why but Ethan also seems utterly familiar to me, like a cousin or best friend's boyfriend. It's maybe just because I 'grow up' with him, watching 'Before Sunrise' at least once a year over the last 20 years. There is no actor I adore more. There is no actress I adore more. There is no story that I like more. There is also no story that is more romantic, more passionate, more realistic and more artfully crafted. It's a great story to tell the melancholy, freedom and search for identity and belonging of my generation. There is no better movie I can relate to and be sucked in.

Thank you Richard Linklater (and Kim Krizan) for this wonderful piece of art. You are my storytelling heroes - and I am not easily impressed. ;-)

Just found a great piece about why this movie is great.