It was 3 PM on a random Wednesday when I found myself stuffing my face with my freezer-burnt cookie-dough ice cream, completely encapsulated by my 15-inch computer screen, which displayed the movie “Before Sunrise” in front of me.
The movie “Before Sunrise” is referred to as a romantic and dramatic film, which I believe sums up the movie perfectly. Richard Linklater directed this marvelous movie and portrayed the power of taking a chance and getting to know a stranger. Ethan Hawke as Jesse Wallace and Julie Delpy as Celine starred in the production, which was filmed in 1994 and came to theaters in 1995.
Jesse and Celine met on a train traveling from Budapest all the way to Paris. However, Jesse needed to get out of Vienna and was brave enough to ask Celine to join him. Celine left her train on a whim and joined Jesse, who was still a stranger to her, for a night in a foreign city.
I watched two people fall head over heels for one another after a short 8 hours together, with no previous knowledge that the other ever existed. And like any sane 20-year-old woman, I began to reflect on my own life, one may even dare to say my love life (or the lack thereof).
A thought that presented itself over and over in my mind, like a trick candle whispered, “What if you were presented this opportunity to find love in an unexpected way?” But the scarier question that followed, which I tried to ignore, said, “Would you dare to accept it?”
Now, we have all had our fair share of awkward moments with a crush, or maybe even with the person who has a crush on you, in which you do not reciprocate feelings, sure! However, not all of us have been gifted with the unique opportunity to make a rational decision that could completely affect who we are and how we see the world.
Now, before I can be fully honest with myself and claim that these niche experiences do not happen to me because I do not give them the chance, and it may be partially my fault, let me play the role of a blame-shifter and recognize a visible issue at hand. Technology.
Throughout the movie, I noticed that these two lovebirds did not once pull out a cellular device since they were so captivated by each other. Now, this movie was created in 1995, so technology was not nearly as advanced, but have we really fallen so far from profound human interactions that even at a glimpse of an awkward moment arising, rather than sitting through it, we scroll through it?
As much as I hate to admit it, in my own life, I have found moments to become far too intense to the point that I think to myself that the only way to break the tension is to pull out my phone. Regardless of my strategy being successful, this kind of behavior is what takes away from the potential of sharing a raw and heartfelt moment with someone.
Not to get gushy, but think about the first time you found yourself caring for someone who cared for you just as much. Maybe you were in middle school, high school, or gosh, maybe it happened last week. Those moments you share together of eye contact, waiting to see who would break it first, speak a powerful language that I do not understand. It holds weight.
Now, in 2026, I find my friends and me squealing gathered around my illuminated phone screen because he liked my Instagram story. What happened?
In “Before Sunrise,” Jesse asked Celine a simple question. He just wanted to know if she would get off the train with him and join him in Vienna. All she did was say yes. Now, if a strange man with extremely gelled hair who was reading a book titled “All I Need Is Love” asked me to get off the train with him in a foreign country I am not familiar with, I’d laugh in his face. However, I don’t know if that is because I would think he is crazy, or because I am a coward who is afraid of what may come of it. Maybe it is both. But at the same time, I propose the question, why not live a little?
I often find myself asking older married couples how they met. Sue me, I am a sucker for a good love story. But a large number of these couples met naturally, and always through in-person contact. The man had the confidence to approach this woman and ask her out. He overlooked his fear of rejection and chased after what he wanted. Her.
Nowadays, there is this common “but I’m scared” talk. But if we let fear drive us, how do we ever expect to grow and find love at all?
In this romantic movie, Jesse stuck his neck out by asking Celine to join him. Knowing very well she could make strong assumptions about him. After all, he’s a stranger asking her to get off the train and wander about the streets of Vienna with him. However, he risked it because taking risks is what gets you places in life.
Throughout the movie, Jesse and Celine asked each other intimate and thought-provoking questions that I would very unlikely ask a close friend, let alone an absolute stranger. I say this as a person who grew up getting in trouble often, due to the lack of my “filter.” I say whatever comes to mind. These questions, however, allowed them to get to know each other deeper almost immediately.
So why are we afraid to ask the scary questions? We all have an enriched desire to know people more in-depth. So, I say, ask the question. Take the risk. Who knows where you will end up? You may just find yourself wandering around in the streets of Vienna, with someone who does not have to be a stranger after all. You may just have a real conversation.
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