WAIM #041: Deborah Carlson (My Mother) on 'Brief Encounter'

My mother gave me my foundational knowledge of film. She and my Dad fostered a love for cinema within themselves and for their children. I grew up in and around movies. They are in many ways the method in which I first understood some of the more complicated aspects of human existence. 

After my Dad died in the summer of 2020, our family formed a movie club in the midst of our collective grief. In the three plus years since we embarked on the endeavor, we have watched dozens of films. While some have been brilliant and others downright awful, each film has managed to garner spirited discussion and appraisal. 

This regular commitment to shared movie watching with some of the most important people in the world to me has strengthened my relationship with my family and deepened my appreciation for the art of cinema. That gained appreciation and commitment to connection is at the heart of What Am I Watching. 

My Mom and I spend a few minutes revisiting David Lean’s Brief Encounter and why it is so brilliant. We also cover the connections between that film and the other half of our movie club double feature, In The Mood For Love. 

It’s a lovely preview into our next installment which happens live on Zoom at 8:00 pm eastern on Wednesday, Dec. 13. It’s also a wonderful chat with my Mom about the movies and there is never a bad time for that.

Cheers,Matty C