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Original poster

Brief Encounter- the film

234 replies

Orangesandlemons77 · 19/09/2025 11:25

We watched this film on TV last night. DH confided in me he used to watch it years ago, over and over and had been in tears over it.

To be honest I didn't really like it. A bit boring. All about an emotional affair between two random people in the 1940s who meet in a train station and go to the pictures etc despite having husbands / wives and children at home.

It just went on and on and then finishes with them saying goodbye and her crying in the arms of her husband who she has been lying to throughout.

AIBU?

OP posts:
CarlaH · 19/09/2025 11:38

It’s of its time. When people, well some of them anyway, put duty above personal desires.

Tigerthatcametobrunch · 19/09/2025 11:38

I get it was doing something new and as such should be viewed as a classic. Anyone who said it was one of their favourite films though I'd look at with huge suspicion.

It's an emotional affair, and paints this as something glorious. Love vs duty? My foot. Aren't I great because I went back to my wife without getting my dick wet. Aren't I brilliant because I went back to my husband and kept my legs shut.

CallMeMessy · 19/09/2025 11:37

LOVE it! It’s a classic for a reason… but yes, of its time, those accents for starters…

BadActingParsley · 19/09/2025 11:35

It gets me every time. The filming is beautiful, the clipped English accents etc can be a little distracting at first. But it's such a perfect picture of how difficult life can be.

Try Casablanca - that's a great film!

Whenthetimeisright · 19/09/2025 11:35

Oh I've watched this film so many many times over the years. I've actually got it on DVD!
We used to watch it as a family because we loved the old station and trains, absolutely wonderful Rachmaninov music and the very familiar actors and actresses..
BUT we always had a good laugh at it and found the story line quite hilarious.

HeyThereDelila · 19/09/2025 11:35

Oh I love Brief Encounter! I’m with your DH.

AlexandraJJ · 19/09/2025 11:34

Love this film, gets me everytime. Love v duty.

Lamelie · 19/09/2025 11:32

It’s very much of its time. The accents, black and white etc. Did you really pay attention? Not rudely but if you weren’t too distracted by how different life was then it’s a very simple, but very affecting story.

InterestedDad37 · 19/09/2025 11:28

It has a real personal resonance for me, saying goodbye at a train station to someone I couldn't be with, and I blub like a baby if I watch that scene 😭