The End of the Affair
Based on the novel by Graham Greene, this romantic drama stars Ralph Fiennes as Maurice Bendrix, a novelist who, during World War II, had an affair with Sarah Miles (Julianne Moore), the wife of his best friend Henry (Stephen Rea). Sarah abruptly broke off the romance in 1944, but two years later, after Maurice runs into Henry, he becomes obsessed with the affair and hires a man to investigate Sarah. He reads her diary of their forbidden romance in the midst of the London Blitz and discovers that, overwhelmed with fear and guilt, she pledged to God that she would end the affair if Maurice's life were spared. Maurice is determined to reintroduce himself into Sarah's life, but she fears that being near him would be too great a temptation. The End of the Affair was previously brought to the screen in 1955 by Edward Dmytryk; this version was written for the screen and directed by Academy Award-winner Neil Jordan. more..
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore, Stephen Rea, Ian Hart
Splendid acting helps Jordan achieve most of his goals, although some may find the romantic and religious elements an uneasy mixture.
Without a hint of sanctimony, it is a love story as much about soul as heart.
The affair itself, in its genteel way, does catch fire, but it's the end of the affair that needs to move us to rapture, and the movie, instead, just drifts away.
Few recent movie romances have a more chilling and peculiar feel -- and a more sobering aftertaste -- than Neil Jordan's heart-rendingly cold adaptation of Affair.
The immaculately crafted film that just sits there and refuses to come to life.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Academy Awards (2000)
Best Screenplay - Adapted
BAFTA Awards (2000)
Best Actress
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (2000)
Best Actress
Chlotrudis Awards (2000)
Best Screenplay
Evening Standard British Film Awards (2001)
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