I first saw Brief Encounter when I was very young – pre-teens probably. I remember being very moved by the story, I enjoyed the very Englishness of it and it’s rich characterization. I didn’t then see it again for many years and when I did I became quite disillusioned by it – thinking it trite, corny and frightfully dated. But over the years I realized that that probably had more to do with how cynical and hard hearted I was at the time (my early 20s)and have now renewed my love of it. Time has been kind to Brief Encounter and the things I felt were trite and corny, now seem poignant, beautiful and deeply moving. It IS very English but that is what makes it all the more wonderful. The depiction of doomed and unrequited love stifled by the repressive attitudes and stiff upper lips of a cold middle England (Coward’s homosexuality most certainly would have informed his writing) expertly conveyed by a mixture of restrained but intense acting, Noel Coward’s rich characterization, the flawless cinematography of Robert Krasker and the cinematic genius of David Lean. Celia Johnson’s performance is amazing and her voice-over is the best you will ever hear in any film ever Also her face is so cinematic (her eyes tell you all you need to know about how Laura is feeling – despite the voice-over!) that you just can’t take your eyes off her for a second. Her big close-up when she makes a mad, impulsive attempt at suicide gives me goose-bumps every time. Truly one of the greatest moments in cinema’s history