"It's awfully easy to lie when you know that you're trusted implicitly. So very easy, and so very degrading."
When housewife Laura Jesson and doctor Alec Harvey meet, they form an instant friendship. They begin their weekly tradition of meeting every Thursday, and gradually fall in love with each other, even though Laura is already married.
The great thing about this movie is the fact that it doesn't exaggerate for cinematic effect. Many movies in the 1940's did that, and though it may have been entertaining at the time, it's now a cringeworthy quality for "old movie" watchers. Brief Encounter is a very realistic take on a momentary infidelity. It wasn't exactly a fairytale, but it changed both associated lives drastically. It wasn't as if the short-lived couple was made perfectly for each other, but more so they used each other as a perfect escape. Alec's escape was from his monotonous job, and Laura's from her monotonous marriage.
I thought the characters in this film were fair. They were neither boring nor extraordinary, but I suppose that just adds the realism that this film brings. I did, however, find Everley Gregg's performance as Dolly Messiter pretty hilarious at the end (and beginning) of the movie. She definitely played another key role in the film's honesty.
Though I have to admit that it wasn't the best film I've ever seen, I can appreciate it's influence on modern romance (the train scene), as well as its authenticity.
It was simply a solid movie. My immediate rating is a 7/10.
Characters: 7/10
Acting: 7/10
Storyline: 7.3/10
Entertainment Value: 6.9/10
Immediate Rating: 7/10
Total Score: 35.2/50
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