Brief Encounter (1945)

David Lean's adaptation of Noel Coward's play Still Life is widely regarded as one of the great British films ever made, and classically referenced as an example of on screen romance. It tells the story of chance meeting of two characters while waiting for a train, despite the fact they are both married they continue to see each other, and the film traces the development of their relationship. What stands out about the film, watching it now for the first time, is the huge shifts in cultural attitudes and values since the film was released. Even by most modern soap opera standards the relationship depicted in the film is very tame, we have become overly familiar with the story of people having affairs and so it is important to recognise the environment in which this would have been released. The guilt and trepidation with which both parties enter into the arrangement seems quaint, but strong work from the two leads help sell their conflict.
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The film's origins as a play are evident, it is a very enclosed and small film in many ways. There are only a handful of characters and sets, but David Lean makes the most of it, the shadowy black and white adding an extra element to the elicit encounters, the smoke and noise that accompany the steam trains that are the backdrop to the whole film have become synonymous with torrid romances. The film also manages to be quietly moving, the motivations of both characters are well defined, and though there is a healthy dose of melodrama it is restrained enough not to overpower the film.
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As per the title the film is relatively short but then so is the story it is telling. I can see how it has garnered the reputation it has, and the drama is well played out, but I think the cumulative weight of similar stories in all manner of media has watered down the films initial impact. Still for any film buff interesting in the history of British cinema, Brief Encounter is a fascinating and enjoyable look at the way we were.