As distinct from those films that directly ‘quote’ from BriefEncounter, there are many more that seem in various ways to echo it.We can’t know to what extent the filmmakers involved had BriefEncounter in mind, but the fact is that its essential scenario andmoral core still retain their emotional power, despite the shifts incultural mores, irresistibly suggesting the long shadow it casts.Those titles considered here involve, to varying degrees, arelationship whose outcome foregrounds the conflict of desire and –what? – convention, other obligations, decency and othercircumstantial and/or moral pressures that one or both protagoniststake into consideration. It is not simply a matter of ‘duty’ but, aswell, a real concern for the well-being of other people and forone’s own self-respect, the two being intricately connected in BriefEncounter. And there are recurring images, visual and aural, thatrecall the old film.