MovieChat Forums > Before Sunrise (1995) Discussion > What the hell kind of 23 year olds talk ...

What the hell kind of 23 year olds talk like this?

posted 10 years ago by MeowOinkMoo
30 replies | jump to latest

The first time I saw this and Before Sunset, I was 21. I think I was still young enough to not realize that nobody actually talks like this in real life. Now I am in my 30s and I know that not only do 23 year olds not speak like this, nor do 32 year olds as are represented in Before Sunset. I know most movies a suspension of disbelief is to be expected and accepted but the whole time I was rewatching these recently, I just thought how ridiculous the dialogue all was, especially as spoken by 23 year old characters.

[–] ArtFilmLover 10 years ago

Have you met liberal arts school students? I'm 21 and depending on the crowd, I talk like that.

[–] IthacaPhan 10 years ago

I talked like that when I was in college as well, but like ArtFilmLover wrote, it depended on who I was with. I would talk more like that now, but I don't find myself drawn into as many deep conversations now that I'm out of school and class where those kinds of discussions were more common.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Indeed.

[–] jahsb 10 years ago

I know a couple of post-grad physics researchers who talk like that as well. Although in the movie's case, I don't know whether to call it pseudo-intellectual or intellectual talk.

[–] scovazze 10 years ago

What 23-y-o does NOT talk like that when he/she wants to impress?
The beauty of this movie is its realism. I've had tons of similar all-night talks when I was that age. They are two OK kids, not stupid and not terribly articulate, just two nice kids who read a couple of books more than average.

[–] sbowesuk 10 years ago

I've met loads of people who couldn't pull off such conversations. Not everyone is intellectual or philosophical.

[–] rtodd110 10 years ago

That's too bad I feel like the age to discuss and philosophize mostly happens during or around the college years. Obviously people continue to do so throughout their lives, but it seems like it was the strongest during that time when your trying to figure out your life.

Good movie I was very surprised that it kept my attention and I liked it as much as I did.
8/10

[–] fairy_depp 10 years ago

I agree, I found this very realistic. I knew a couple of people at college who talked like this. I find it a bit irritating watching it now because it is people trying to sound more intelligent than they really are but I found it very realistic and it really added to the feeling of them being young and trying to impress each other... And besides, these two are obviously a bit more adventurous than the average 23 year old.. Travelling through Europe and then agreeing to spend a night together when they'd only just met.

[–] kumarihpx 10 years ago

Totally agree.

[–] ToHelenBackAgain 10 years ago

Well-educated 23-year-olds who are trying desperately to impress one another talk like this.

I thought it was adorable.

Snake Plissken. I've heard of you. I heard you were dead.

[–] LctnSct 10 years ago

Although it may not be particularly valid to address the issue of this movie with something that happens in the sequels, it should be noted that he is a published author in the second and third films in the series. Thus, his character in the first movie, even at that age, would likely be thinking such "deep" thoughts and possess a fairly impressive vocabulary.

[–] ChrisNgu 10 years ago

Genuine question here. How do you imagine 23 year olds talk?