current music: "Time After Time"

I just saw "Before Sunrise".

I originally rented the video for the reasons that 1.) Ate Kules seemed to really love that film, 2.) the sequel was released about a year ago, and was a big hit, 3.) I liked the title, 4.) I like Julie Delpy. It also helped that I just emerged from a 3-day silent retreat, so I needed conversation of some kind, as the house was empty.

Now that I'm done with it, I'll go on a limb: this is now another one of those 'favorites for all-eternity' kind of films. I loved it. It's one of the sweetest, most honest, most inspired works I've seen, never no mind if nothing really takes place before you.

I suppose my time in Fr. Nic's Eurocinema class taught me how to watch movies like this: seeing the underlying signs, the deeper significance of things onscreen, how to gauge the moods of the characters by how they act. It's all so difficult to explain now, but it all boils down to looking at things deeper than what they are (which is what most Hollywood movies, in contrast, focus too much on - immdiate escapism).

Now for the film.

What happens when you meet the love of your life, but you can only spend a single day with them? You make the most of it. And that's exactly what our protagonists, Jessie and Celine did, after they met on a train in Europe. Together, they explored the world of Vienna after-dark, as well as their own and each other's complexities, anxieties, hopes, fears, passions and love.

And it's wonderful. It rang so true to me, seeing how they were together, what they talked about, how they're so different and yet, drawn so intensely to each other.

Basta.
- I loved the script. Brilliantly inspiring.
- I loved how they shot it. Vienna, already a magical kind of place, never looked so romantic.
- I loved how well they knew the city, and the secrets they unearthed throughout their exploration.
- I love Julie Delpy. Wait. Off-tangent. Rewind, rewind.
- I loved Julie Delpy's PERFORMANCE. Yes, biases aside, she really made me, already a jaded critic, fall.

The movie's not for everybody. I know. But for those who will like to listen to really smart conversation, or need a love story to get your weekend going, please watch this. For youself, if for anybody. Because you'll love it. That is, if it's for you.

current music: Without Me - Clair Marlo

Okay Raph. Relax. It's not your job to help every single person you know having trouble.
It's not your job, it's not your job, it's not your job. Relax. Take it easy, you deserve the rest.

Fine. Fine.
*sob*

But I can't help it! I just gotta!. Iba kung mahal mo eh.

But you can't! You mustn't! Learn from your mistakes, as you must let them learn from theirs.

Besides. You can't do anything for them anyway.