Before sunrise/sunset

#203 watched Before Sunrise/Sunset last nite, back to back ... im not one who watches too many movies ... but am sure romantic movies cant get better than this ... (PS: This isnt a movie review, but just tht this got me thinking)

Its a movie about a young american, Jesse and a young french woman,Celine. It about how it takes small things for people to connect, things we typically ignore - innocense, compassion.
So, Jesse and Celine meet in a Eu-rail coach and after talking for a while, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him at Vienna so they can spend more time together.

"
Jesse: Alright, alright. Think of it like this. Um, uh, jump ahead, ten, twenty years, okay, and you're married. Only your marriage doesn't have that same energy that it used to have, you know. You start to blame your husband. You start to think about all those guys you've met in your life, and what might have happened if you'd picked up with one of them, right? (Céline starts laughing a bit) Well, I'm one of those guys. That's me, you know. So think of this as time travel, from then, to now, uh, to find out what you're missing out on. See, what this really could be is a gigantic favor to both you and your future husband, to find out that you're not missing out on anything. I'm just as big a loser as he is, totally unmotivated, totally boring, and, uh, you made the right choice, and you're really happy (motions to towards the door).
"

More here

Taking place over the course of one night, their limited time together is always on their minds, and leads to their revealing more about themselves than they normally would, since both believe they will never again see one another again. They scale the lanes of Vienna, unknown to the world around, living anonymously for a change. There's something enigmatic about anonymous existence, you unconsciously transform into a different human being, lose your baggage, back your instincts. You feel 'HIGH'.

It's ironical that life's self-balancing wrt everything, n invariably comes back full circle. So, as the two got more into each other's lives, the idea of walking away the next day started looking distant. So, their emotions got the better of them n they finally decide to meet in freezing Vienna after 6th months, on Dec 16th. And interestingly, we watched the movie last nite ... quite a co-incidence! (Moreover 16th June's certainly a red-letter-day in Ankit's calender)!

The first movie ends on an optimistic note ... and you wish they meet up n live happily ever after ... the sequel is much more realistic. Entire Script here

As reality takes over, Celine fails to turn up. 9 years pass n by now Jesse is married n has a kid, but far from happy. Celine has had many relationships, searching for a Jesse in each of one them; each relationship damaging her from inside. Meanwhile Jesse spends 3-4 yrs to penn down that single day that turned his life on its head, into a best-seller, with the hope that Celine would some day ... Finally they meet, to set off a conversation lasting 90 minutes. Every line in the conversation reflects how connected they were despite their isolation for 9 yrs. Every line talks about the what ifs, and why nots. Both Jesse and Celine look so helpless, failing to come to terms with what had transpired, wondering how different their lives had turned out to be, from what they'd dreamt during their hey days. The ending, as expected was left for much speculation. Only wish, life allowed parallel existence.

"
Celine: Oh, God, why didn't we exchange phone numbers and stuff?
Jess: Why didn't we do that?
Celine: Because we were young and stupid?
Jess: You think we still are?
Celine: I guess when you're young... you just believe... there'll be many people with whom you'll connect with. Later in life you only realize it only happens a few times.
"


"
Jess: In the months leading up to my wedding, ok, I was thinking about you, all the time. I mean, even on my way there... I'm in the car, and a buddy of mine is driving me downtown, and I'm staring at the window... and I think I see you.
Celine: Not far from the church, right.
Jess: Folding up an umbrella, and walking into a deli, on the corner of... 13th and Broadway.

Celine: And I thought I was going crazy, you know?
But now I think it probably was you...
I lived on 11th and Broadway.
"


"
Celine: I don't believe in anything that relates to love, I don't feel things for people anymore.
In a way... I put all my romanticism into that one night and I was never able to feel all this again.

Like... somehow this night took things away from me and...
I expressed them to you and you took them with you!
It made me feel cold, like if love wasn't for me!
"

No words could describe the emotions flaring between them. It really makes me wonder wht a big difference someone somewhere in such a small time can make to your life; wht its like to be loved by someone ... n to be able to give love in return.