The Savory City

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Brief Encounter

I've just seen the most marvelous film! Noel Coward's Brief Encounter (1945) with Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard is simply magnificent. It's the story of a chance meeting between two happily married strangers who fall in love unexpectedly and begin a passionate affair.

I heard about the film in a book called the Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British, by Sarah Lyall. She mentioned the movie when she was discussing how the British like to handle difficult situations with a respectable stiff upper lip. I was curious to see why she would use this film in particular as an example, so I borrowed it from the library.

What I love about Brief Encounter is its timelessness, due in large part to the brilliance of its two stars. There is a certain quiet dignity in their love for each other that remains interesting and relevant even today, almost 65 years later. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I'm a sucker for a great love story.