Brief Encounter

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Stephanie Brief Encounter was excellent. The cinematic elements of the film deserved an Oscar! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Graham L Brief Encounter is a beautiful example of Less is More. Produced in thoroughly war-weary 1945 England on a tight budget, it pulled the best work from its' writers, actors, editors and a great score (Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto); then combined all that into a sum even greater than the parts. The story may seem contrived, but it unveils the universal heart-breaking human tale of falling hopelessly in love despite knowing deeply that it will be impossible in the end. That direct connection to the viewer forces us to face that devastating reality but also makes us stronger by acknowledging that we all share in this bit of tragedy and go on with our lives, nonetheless. An all-time gem! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/20/25 Full Review Marit Risto F Again the nevrotic split between the husband, and the lover. So tragic. A love trip is essential for our evolution, but there are many reasons why this is so feared and suppressed. We've had a certain liberation, but few, if any, found a solution. I haven't given up though 😊 Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/19/25 Full Review Lina S I never thought the day would come when I’d say, “I’ve finally found my favorite film.” I’ve always had a diverse list of films I love, each suited to a particular mood, but I’ve never truly said, “This is the greatest film of all time” until I watched this one. And honestly, I said it before the first quarter of the film had even passed. I don’t say this because the film is technically perfect, or because it’s a flawless cinematic model to be studied. I say it because it touched every living nerve in me. It stole my heart before my eyes. I was so thirsty while watching, yet I couldn’t pause it for even a second. I only picked up my phone once -to jot down a quote that stunned me - before realizing I could find the dialogue online later. After that, I put my phone away and forgot about it completely. What struck me even more was how intensely I reacted to any sound, movement, or attempt at interruption. I was genuinely annoyed—because I was so immersed, so emotionally consumed. For someone who’s grown used to pausing, rewinding, and resuming videos at will, this level of engagement was incredible. I could have stopped it at any moment for any number of reasons , but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I was absolutely mesmerized by Celia Johnson. I can say with confidence that she carried the entire film ,not through action, but through the raw, overflowing emotion on her face. Her expressions were so powerful, so deeply human, that they felt almost scandalous in their vulnerability. Within the first five minutes, I asked myself, “Could the greatest actress in cinema history have come from this era?” And I meant it. I believed it—because of how my heartbeat mirrored the flickers of emotion in her eyes. I don’t know if I can bet that this film will resonate with everyone. But I’m sure that anyone who has ever carried even a fragment of longing, desire, or deep emotional attachment for another human being—will feel this film settle into their soul. Effortlessly, it will earn its place among the unforgettable. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/09/25 Full Review Luca D A very simple yet potent romance, I like the short runtime as it adds to the effect of their encounter truly being so brief. Maybe I just like this movie a lot because I romanticize every girl I see passing in traffic or on the train, but I truly think this movie represents a feeling many people share. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/24/24 Full Review Irene M Can't believe I've never seen before. So well-acted, with just one look the leads tell an entire story. Watched it because David Lean was the director (we had recently seen Bridge on the River Kwai). Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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