I just finished it, and what a film it is! The cinematography, as you mentioned, was absolutely fabulous. Even towards the end, it added something new to keep it fresh. With regard to performances, even the smaller roles were, again as you mentioned, sublime. I was positively surprised how good "Brief Encounter" was. Since you mention you've watched other David Lean creations, which would you recommend? :)

Its my joint second favourite Lean film along with Passage to India. I'm not such a Lean enthusiast but Bridge on the River Kwai is, in my eyes, his absolute masterpiece (although very different to Brief Encounter). I also have a real soft spot for This Happy Breed.

Duly noted. You don't have to be an enthusiast per se, but I thank you for the recommendations. I already got River Kwai on my list. He sure did make some long motion pictures. :)

None of David Lean’s other films reaches the emotional depth of Brief Encounter, but most are still exceptional. Lawrence of Arabia is generally considered the greatest epic film ever photographed, and it’s well deserved. You might try Oliver Twist, a great adaptation of the Dickens tale. Summertime is a great Hepburn film about middle aged love.

Doctor Zhivago has one of the greatest film scores ever. It’s a little hard to tell from the film, but if you track down the soundtrack album, it is quite incredible! Oscar winning, too.

I did not know about the Hepburn film and "Doctor Zhivago". I will make sure to check them out eventually as well. Thank you once more. :)

I just saw this really good little movie. I was amazed by how fresh & contemporary many of the scenes felt. That one lady in the film talked SO much, I wondered if she'd ever stop. This was so solid, it's actually piqued my curiosity in the Noel Coward novel.

@CelluloidFan said:

I was amazed by how fresh & contemporary many of the scenes felt.

Exactly! I think that's why this movie is so timeless. It strips romance down to the basics: meeting, conflict, making a choice. No contrived intrigue or plot twists required, and that's what makes it apply so intimately to our own lives.

I haven't seen any other Noel Coward movies but this is one of my favorite romance flicks of all time because it's so realistic. idk about yall but I sure haven't had any epic romances spanning wars, famine, one of us dying and coming back as a ghost lol

@rooprect said:

@CelluloidFan said:

I was amazed by how fresh & contemporary many of the scenes felt.

I haven't seen any other Noel Coward movies but this is one of my favorite romance flicks of all time because it's so realistic. idk about yall but I sure haven't had any epic romances spanning wars, famine, one of us dying and coming back as a ghost lol

One of the most honest things any film watcher can do is to admit that his or her perceptions play a part in their opinion of a movie they've seen.

To me, you are 100% right. The scenes of the couple in the cafe, at the movies, etc. are totally relatable to me, as they are so simple and commonplace. I dug Atonement, but its story isn't something I expect to happen to me anytime....

@CelluloidFan said:

@rooprect said:

@CelluloidFan said:

I was amazed by how fresh & contemporary many of the scenes felt.

I haven't seen any other Noel Coward movies but this is one of my favorite romance flicks of all time because it's so realistic. idk about yall but I sure haven't had any epic romances spanning wars, famine, one of us dying and coming back as a ghost lol

One of the most honest things any film watcher can do is to admit that his or her perceptions play a part in their opinion of a movie they've seen.

To me, you are 100% right. The scenes of the couple in the cafe, at the movies, etc. are totally relatable to me, as they are so simple and commonplace. I dug Atonement, but its story isn't something I expect to happen to me anytime....

Thanks for the reminder about Atonement, it’s been on my watch list for a while. Yup the sweeping epics are enjoyable—where would we be without Dr Zhivago & Casablanca—but sometimes we need something relatable like you said.

The simplicity of the café & movie scenes is what did it for me too. Also the “quiet desperation” of home life. No dramatic outbursts from suspicious husbands, just that thick atmosphere of doing crosswords while listening to the phonograph as she fights an internal storm. Brilliant!