Review of Brief Encounter (1945) by Hugo S — 02 Nov 2009
BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945).
Dir. David Lean.
Cast. Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley HollowayThere is a beautiful scene early on featuring Celia Johnson's character walking out of the train station, she crosses the path of an acquaintance who says hi, but she doesnt hear it, as she is stuck in her head, thinking about the man she spent a special moment with. Its the beginning of what would become of a love affair between a married woman and a married man who met, simply, in a train station.Unlike many movies about cheating husbands or wives, Brief Encounter doesnt feature a bad guy. Their affair is not about sex or betrayal, its about love and the story is very engrossing.The narration is what makes this film special. Without it, the film would be quite bland in some way. Its with that narration we understand the depth and the importance of that relationship, its with that narration we understand how tearing it is for that woman to cheat on her husband, but also to cheat herself, for not allowing herself to love that man she briefly encountered.The acting is solid, especially Celia Johnson. But why, oh why, does everyone have to speak so fast ? At 82 minutes, Brief Encounter is probably a 100-minute film if the dialogue wasnt delivered so quickly. But that would be my only small problem with the film. David Lean works the camera perfectly and some shots are filled with meaning. I picked Brief Encounter randomly, and Im glad I did. Very influential for the genre.
This review of Brief Encounter (1945) was written by Hugo S on 02 Nov 2009.
Brief Encounter has generally received very positive reviews.
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