Before Sunrise

'Before Sunrise" is a movie that I watched recently on my roomies laptop. To simply say that I enjoyed the movie would be an understatement. This is one of those movies which will stay with me for a long time to come. I do not know why but I have increasingly found myself inclined towards movies which relies heavily on dialogues. In this case the theme of the movie itself is a conversation between the two protagonists. Theres nothing else. The moment I read abt this in a blog, I knew I had to watch this.I will breifly outline how the story progresses. The guy n the gal r both travelling in train which is going to Paris. He is an American heading for Vienna n shes a French going to Paris. They bump into each other and instantly strike a rapport. Both seem to have some thing in common. Internal angst n a constant strife to come to terms with the reality. When the train stops at Vienna the he accosts her to join him in Vienna to spend the day together and leave the next morning. Although the idea appears crazy to her initially she gives in, unable to resist the force that is bonding them. And so they walk the streets of Vienna sharing their views on life, religion, sex, relationships, beauty,music etc. The more they find abt each other the more they discover the commonality they have. They even hold antagonistic views regarding some topics like the role played by each in a male-female relationship. However they appreciate the differences and reconciles. So we bear witness to the growing closeness between them. At one point they engage in a passionate kiss with the setting sun as back drop. The air of romantisicm is subtle yet vivid. The scene in restaurant where each one pretend to call his/her friend back home and mentions abt how he/she met n what they like & dislike abt each other is simply endearing. As night falls , they spend the night in a park gazing at the star lit sky and then later in each other arms (no they dont make love !!!!). The next morning they part with the lady boarding the train after frenzied kissing and promising to meet at the same place after six months. In the last frame the camera focusses on those places they had visited and which appears so desolate now as if the soul is missing. The melancholiness in the air is touching.

The narration in the movie is near flawless. The way the camera follows the couple as they serenade the streets of Vienna is techincally correct. So are the dialogues. As I mentioned before the movie rests on the dialogues. The way the conversation flows as they switch from on topic to another is seamless. The male protagonist (played by Ethan Hawke) appears flirty at times. I feel there was no need to add this dimension to his character. The female character is the gem of the movie. She will strike a chord or two in your heart. The background score is also apt as is required in movie with such theme. In short the movie is a example of deft cinematic work. Not to be missed.

Decisions in Life !!

'Decisiveness' is an important quality that a manager should have. As a B-School student you hear this being repeated time & again by ur profs, peers & seniors. So, if u do not have it yet , acquire it. Or else be doomed, so they say. All 'successful' ppl apparently had taken a certain decision in their life which defined their success. Well I think to a considerable extent it may be true. Coz, life often bring u @ such crucial junctures, wherein u have to take certain decision which ultimately determines ur future course of action. You take a wrong decision and ur r doomed. But what if one is 'indecisive' by nature? Does he stand a chance to 'succeed' ? Or is his destiny predetermined. Can he hope to acquire this quality ? If yes, how ? Or more fundentally can it be acquired ? Is it something which is innate ?? Does he really have control over it ? To even attempt to answer any of these questions one should first understand what it really takes to choose one option over other when exposed to a plethora of options ?? Especially so when the options r the paths that one is abt to tread in life. I do not have an answer to any of these quesstions nor shall I try to answer. I will just reflect on some of my observations. Since ones birth human beings find himself surrounded a group of ppl. Initially the grp comprises of his/her parents only but as one grows up the grp becomes larger & more diverge. The events of the society around him shapes his character, his thoughts, his opinions & even his choices. Very soon all decisions he takes in life becomes a function of the variables determined by the society. He does not get any opportunity to excercise his will. Sometimes his mind wantst to break free but the pressure of the society is so much that he wilts. So he starts to tread a path which the people around him decided was best for him. The same story is repeated over n over again , every time which is a definining time in his life. It does not stop at that. This habit of taking decisions to satisfy others becomes so strong that he stops listening to the voice within him. He even tries to stifle the voice of the others. This completes his becoming a part of those who shaped his decisions. Well this is the story for most. But there r some whose mind does not allow him to rest. The voice which he suppressed once tries to find an outlet all the time. He wants to listen to that voice. He wants to witness the moment when the sun rises, or the moment when the rains fall & washes the leaves , the moments which seems like eternity. But he is afraid of retracing back the path he has been made to tread. He is afraid of being not accepted by others. And also the fact that he has not listened to the voice for so long makes him a coward. He does not know where to draw courage from. A battle rages in his mind. Then he makes a mistake again. He lets destiny to decide for him. And dedstiny more often then not leads him into the same old path again. Is destiny one with them ?