Although best remembered for his star-studded, Oscar-winning epics Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), director David Lean's early work throws up quite a few cinematic gems: a trio of Noël Coward adaptations, a double bill of Dickensian dramas and moving wartime adventure In Which We Serve (1942). The BFI celebrates the centenary of Lean's birth, screening big hitter Brief Encounter (1945) alongside forgotten treasure The Passionate Friends (1949), a tale of an impossible love triangle; both films star Trevor Howard. This season is a superb chance to reacquaint yourself with a master of classic filmmaking.