The Aftermath

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2:24

The Aftermath

R

2019

1h 49m

History

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

26%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In 1946 Rachael Morgan arrives in the ruins of Hamburg to be reunited with her husband, Lewis, who is a British colonel charged with rebuilding the shattered city. As they set off for their new home, Rachael is stunned to discover that Lewis has made an unexpected decision: They will be sharing the grand house with its previous owners, a German widower and his troubled daughter. In this charged atmosphere, enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal.

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Critics Consensus

Tasteful to a fault, The Aftermath is worth seeking out only for the most passionate period drama enthusiasts.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Feb 21, 2020

Knightley's character is - hello! - more sympathetic and sensual than in the novel, while Clarke's is more one-dimensional, to the point of caricature.

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

Sep 23, 2019

It does not achieve the emotional resonance that it's looking for, but Keira Knightly does wear some great dresses.

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

Apr 21, 2019

2/5

A shallow excuse for attractive actors to get their kit off.

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Aug 19, 2022

2/5

If you take away The Aftermath’s post-war Reconstruction of Germany’s setting, what you have is a lonely housewife having an affair with a pool boy, and a lonely couple in desperate need of a premium cable subscription.

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Milana Vujkov

Lola On Film

Jul 30, 2021

2/5

It does not bode well for a story of a tumultuous affair if the only performance with conviction, in a love triangle, is given by the betrayed husband.

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Cassidy Olsen

The Improper Bostonian

Mar 8, 2021

2.5/4

The Aftermath is far from a great film, so deeply mired in genre conventions that playing a period piece drinking game while watching would have you in an ambulance within the first half-hour. But it's much too fun to get angry about.

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Lynn Y

@LynnYoung Dec 19, 2025

A bit slow but beautiful house and location and if you like period movies.

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Christopher T

@RT96757946 Dec 7, 2025

I just caught this movie by mistake this cold Sunday. I absolutely loved it. The critics over analyze everything. It’s a great movie about post WWII lives Watch it

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Dec 7, 2025

Truly unimaginative and lacking in any depth. I like Knightley a lot, but she's left to fend for herself with no help whatsoever. Just very slow and not creatively shot.

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elly k

@RT31535541 Nov 11, 2025

I don't understand the bad reviews. I really enjoyed this movie.

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Pedro Henrique C

@Pedro2005 Oct 13, 2025

The Aftermath (2019) is a romance that happens too quickly, that has no development or appeal whatsoever that delivers a love story and history that unfortunately doesn't work out.

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Roger C

@RT24521034 Oct 3, 2025

No idea why this is not better rated! A very good movie highlighting the effect of war on both sides of a conflict. Full of tension and the ending is good.

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James Kent

Director

Keira Knightley

Rachael Morgan

Alexander Skarsgård

Stephen Lubert

Jason Clarke

Lewis Morgan

Martin Compston

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Flora Li Thiemann

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The Aftermath: Trailer 1

2:24

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Synopsis

In 1946 Rachael Morgan arrives in the ruins of Hamburg to be reunited with her husband, Lewis, who is a British colonel charged with rebuilding the shattered city. As they set off for their new home, Rachael is stunned to discover that Lewis has made an unexpected decision: They will be sharing the grand house with its previous owners, a German widower and his troubled daughter. In this charged atmosphere, enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal.

Director: James Kent
Producer: Jack Arbuthnott, Malte Grunert
Screenwriter: Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse, Rhidian Brook
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, Amusement Park Films
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Images|Sexual Content/Nudity|Violence)
Genre: History, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 11, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.6M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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