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Has me in floods too, at the end - never fails. Also the bit when Laura is on the train and talks about the pain she's feeling - "It can't last.this feeling can't last".

Watched it again recently, first time in years.
Fred at the end, he speaks that line and it utterly rips me in half.
The focus at first seems to be on the love of the pair of them, but it's all about Fred really.
Maybe it just depends where you are in your life when you see it. But yes, it has brought tears to my eyes.

I do! I have only watched it twice but tears welled up in both occasions. I found it particularly heartbreaking when that loud obnoxious lady come and sits at their table uninvited! obviously butting in in a very intimate moment. How was she supposed to know that of course, but I wanted to strangle her. Ruining their last precious minutes together like that.

Jeez, wish I could cry at a movie for once, only The Green Mile left me a bit teary eyed. Brief Encounter was pretty good, but it makes me feel like a sociopath after reading the comments and realizing I just watched it with an emotionless expression.

I think part of the reason so many feel such empathy for Laura is because of the internal narration. You really feel as if you can identify with her because her motivations and feelings are laid bare before you.
There's a LOT of narration in the movies, but rarely is it handled with such delicacy or realism as the way we hear Laura in her own mind. That builds a bridge into her character, and adds to the poignancy of the events she experiences.
It's funny, but there's considerable narration in movies. It generally falls into two categories: stilted and buffoonery. Rarely is internal self-narration handled with such realistic aplomb, and it adds tremendous depth to the story. I get hooked every time.

I cry EVERY time i watch this. I remember watching this when i was a little girl with my grandma, and, even then, it made me cry (i was about 7) and it still does to this day.
I just feel so bad for Laura. Her life got turned upside down when she met Alec, and then he was gone, just like that. No fictional character has ever made me feel a 'connection' to them before, except Laura.
And now, a bit of self promotion. My blog: http://dawnspartoftheworld.blogspot.com

I do. Because I've been there and know what they're going through. I canremember every second of that last meeting. It never leaves you.

Yep. [raises hand, without any shame at all]. *)

"Maybe I should go alone"

• Quint, Jaws.

I don't know. In some ways I really like this movie, but in some ways, I can't feel too sorry for the main characters. Same goes for the leads in "Lost in Translation".
~~
Jim Hutton: talented gorgeous hot hunk; adorable as ElleryQueen; SEXIEST ACTOR EVER