The End of the Affair

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The End of the Affair

R

Released Dec 2, 1999

1h 49m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the years following World War II, writer Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes) has an unexpected run-in with Henry Miles (Stephen Rea) and his wife, Sarah (Julianne Moore), with whom he once shared a passionate affair. Henry, who never knew, confides in Maurice that he suspects Sarah of adultery, leading to the hiring of a detective (Ian Hart) to follow her. As Sarah never explained why she called off their affair, Maurice follows the investigation closely, his feelings for her reawakened.

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Critics Consensus

Neil Jordan has good direction with solid performances from Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore.

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Can anyone fail to recognize this as a fundamental betrayal of the author’s creative vision?

Rated: C

May 8, 2002

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Tasteful and seductive.

Rated: B

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Mike Clark

USA Today

This is the kind of movie in which even the sex scenes are soulless.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Film Threat

Rated: 3/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Alan Dale

Blogcritics.org

The whole thing is beyond purple and yet so careful and reverent you can't even enjoy it as camp.

Nov 19, 2005

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Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

But the biggest flaw in Neil Jordan's movie is how severely it contradicts the core of Graham Greene's novel.... What a sad and melancholy piece of work.

Rated: C

Dec 6, 2004

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Erie C

This film has been seriously underrated by most critics. The story is heartbreakingly real, the plot intelligently adapted and the characters are finely fleshed out and defined in the performances of Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore and Stephen Rea. What was most important to me was the exceptional alchemic balance among the trio in this painful affair played out against World War II. The sensuality of the sexual encounters between Moore and Fiennes makes the absence of that between Moore and her kind hearted husband all the more believable and meaningful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

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Amanda L

A film that takes chances in attempting to portray the conversations and struggles one might have with his or her higher power. Definitely makes me want to read the novel by Graham Greene, having made me all snot-nosed and puffy-faced with its closing scene.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

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K W

I love this movie. It feels like a tale I've heard before. Julianne Moore is beautiful.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/26/22

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colin m

A bit boring and old-fashioned. Slow going.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really liked this film I found it very moving. At first glance it appears to be the story of a woman in a sexless marriage who embarks on an affair, but it's actually much more than that. It's also about how jealousy can create havoc within a relationship and ultimately it's about a woman finding her faith and her belief in God.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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steve d

The acting is great, but I felt nothing for the characters.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Neil Jordan

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Maurice Bendrix

Julianne Moore

Sarah Miles

Stephen Rea

Henry Miles

Ian Hart

Mr. Parkis

Samuel Bould

Lance Parkis

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - I Am a Jealous Man

2:06

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - I'm in Love

2:15

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - I Never Stopped Loving You

2:41

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - The Bombing

2:06

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - Sarah Is Dying

2:17

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - Praying for a Miracle

2:37

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - It’s Only Love, After All

2:56

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - Love Doesn't End

2:41

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - Are You Two Lovers?

2:07

The End of the Affair: Official Clip - Jealous of the Rain

2:26

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Synopsis

In the years following World War II, writer Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes) has an unexpected run-in with Henry Miles (Stephen Rea) and his wife, Sarah (Julianne Moore), with whom he once shared a passionate affair. Henry, who never knew, confides in Maurice that he suspects Sarah of adultery, leading to the hiring of a detective (Ian Hart) to follow her. As Sarah never explained why she called off their affair, Maurice follows the investigation closely, his feelings for her reawakened.

Director: Neil Jordan
Producer: Neil Jordan, Stephen Woolley
Screenwriter: Graham Greene, Neil Jordan
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 2, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.7M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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