It's hard to praise this movie without spoiling a major plot twist, but I'll try. Cinematographically breathtaking and featuring Oscar-caliber performances, The End of the Affair is a must see. Ralph Fiennes is wonderfully brooding, and Julianne Moore is astounding as an adultress who turns out to be much, much, much more than she seems. "I am very human" she says. At first she appears to be nothing but a deceptive woman who cheats on her husband and leaves her lover for another, but as the film progresses and we realize how complex she is.
In a brilliant stroke of direction, the couple takes off more and more items of clothing in successive love scenes. When Sarah and Maurice make love for the first time (on her couch, minutes before her husband walks in)they take off only the necessary items of clothing. By the time the critical scene that reveals Sarah's true nature comes, the pair is completely naked. The metaphor works brilliantly: the more items of clothing that come off, the more they confess their love for each other, and the more Sarah is figuratively undressed. Maurice's envy also increases with each scene. "I am jealous of this stocking...because it kisses your whole leg, and I cannot...I am jealous of this shoe, because it will take you away from me."
Also excellent is the showing of the same incident twice; once from his point of view, and once from hers.
There is also a moment of cinematic reference that few will catch unaided: On a date to watch one of his books that was turned into a movie, Sarah and Maurice watch "The End of the Affair" (1955). This, of course, is a clue that the character of Maurice might be slightly autobiographical (representing author Graham Greene).
The End of the Affair features both a love story and a mystery, and is a movie that deserves for viewers to watch with both eyes open.
In a brilliant stroke of direction, the couple takes off more and more items of clothing in successive love scenes. When Sarah and Maurice make love for the first time (on her couch, minutes before her husband walks in)they take off only the necessary items of clothing. By the time the critical scene that reveals Sarah's true nature comes, the pair is completely naked. The metaphor works brilliantly: the more items of clothing that come off, the more they confess their love for each other, and the more Sarah is figuratively undressed. Maurice's envy also increases with each scene. "I am jealous of this stocking...because it kisses your whole leg, and I cannot...I am jealous of this shoe, because it will take you away from me."
Also excellent is the showing of the same incident twice; once from his point of view, and once from hers.
There is also a moment of cinematic reference that few will catch unaided: On a date to watch one of his books that was turned into a movie, Sarah and Maurice watch "The End of the Affair" (1955). This, of course, is a clue that the character of Maurice might be slightly autobiographical (representing author Graham Greene).
The End of the Affair features both a love story and a mystery, and is a movie that deserves for viewers to watch with both eyes open.