Review of Brief Encounter (1945) by John E — 30 Apr 2011
Brief Encounter is David Lean Light; that is to say, Lean deftly handles the intimacy and claustrophobia of indoor space but does not contrast it with any of the grandeur and splendor of nature as can be found in his more famous epic films.
Intimacy is the film's primary focus and everything revolves around that: the indoor settings, the prying and invasive eyes of society, the internal dialogue Laura holds with herself in a sort of quasi-narration/confession to her oblivious husband.
The entire movie shakes its fist at highbrow British society's constricting and intruding presence and its emphasis on staid, reserved behavior. British society's probing hands are felt throughout the film's cursory runtime as these two know that their torrential affair is doomed to fail from the start.
As brief and violent as the train whistling by and as ephemeral as the rapidly dissolving smoke it leaves in its wake, these star-crossed souls make the most of what they can. Their passion is felt but not seen; it doesn't need to be seen.
What is said, longed for, and communicated by just the right glance or brief remark says more than any love scene could. Because the film makes our stay with this couple as fleeting as their own affair, what we do see becomes emotively powerful and poignant.
It's a marvelous exercise in economical filmmaking; Lean does well with what he is given structures his film to sympathize and align with the couple as much as possible.
This review of Brief Encounter (1945) was written by John E on 30 Apr 2011.
Brief Encounter has generally received very positive reviews.
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