Brief Encounter

this movie is so bare bones and emotionally raw that david lean strips away all the clutter and excess bullshit from traditional romance dramas and leaves behind such authenticity while still maintaining emotional restraint. and i feel like a part of it is because of how mildly underrated the lighting is. like it leans heavily towards romantic realism with soft and diffused lighting which is so so soooo good for the film’s quiet and intimate ambiance. but there’s also moments where it leans towards being a noir; harsher contrasts and subtle shadow play that makes it look like the chiaroscuro lighting that you’d see in baroque paintings. the duality of harshness and softness; the duality of tension and tenderness. its a nice blend that doesn’t just enhance the story, but more so becomes the story