brief encounter, synopsis

Brief Encounter is a classic romantic drama set in 1945 during World War II in and around the fictional Milford railway station.

A married woman; Laura meets a Doctor, Alec, in the stations waiting room, the Doctor kindly removes a piece of grit from her eye and then leaves to catch his train. During her following shopping trips to Milford, Laura meets Alec again and a friendship begins to develop, soon the meetings become a fixed arrangement.

As their relationship grows, both Alec and Laura find themselves drawn to each other, falling in love. They begin to regularly attend the cinema together and visit the surrounding area during their short spells of time together – then finally they exchange kisses at the railway station to confirm their feelings. Yet Laura is uncomfortable and elated, excited by the attention of a loving man but guilty about being unfaithful to her passionless husband Fred.

Laura continues the deception and embarks on a passionate extramarital affair - after much hesitation she gives in to Alec’s plea’s and joins him at a his friend Stephen’s apartment, but Stephen returns unexpectedly to his flat and a guilt-ridden Laura runs away. Alec later catches up with her and breaks the news that he is soon to leave the country after receiving a job offer from his brother in South Africa - he asks that she meets him next week for a final rendezvous.

They meet the following Thursday and enjoy a day in the country, and a romantic final visit to the tea room before Laura finally says a last goodbye to Alec as his train departs from the railway station.