The End of the Affair (1999)

67% of critics liked it
(66 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(9,257 ratings)

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,… More 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. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Neil Jordan
Written By: Neil Jordan
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 3, 1999 Wide
On DVD: May 16, 2000
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Paul Tatara, CNN.com
An effective love story that's intensely old-fashioned.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Tasteful and seductive.
Alan Dale, Blogcritics.org
The whole thing is beyond purple and yet so careful and reverent you can't even enjoy it as camp.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
What a sad and melancholy piece of work. ... Fiennes basically reprises his English Patient role as the heroic destroyer of covenants and promises.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Writer/director Neil Jordan takes the right approach to the material. Instead of trying to spruce it up, he simply moves in closer.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
Neil Jordan's film captures an unyielding sense, even almost to a fault, of romantic realism and its often underlying sadness.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
a demanding, thought-provoking film ...built around a theme many will find difficult to accept, that miracles can happen to perfectly ordinary, non-religious people.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Morgan S

Or as I like to call this movie; GROPE. lol I absolutely adore RALPH FIENNES. But i just didnt really find myself enjoying this movie that much.. Julianne Moores character seems almost too self-pitying and whinny as some points. In this movie I actually thought that the actor that… More
Or as I like to call this movie; GROPE. lol I absolutely adore RALPH FIENNES. But i just didnt really find myself enjoying this movie that much.. Julianne Moores character seems almost too self-pitying and whinny as some points. In this movie I actually thought that the actor that stood out the most for me was Stephen Rea. He was quite good. Never bitter or hating as you would expect a man in his position would be. Very well acted. All in all i dont really think I would watch this movie again, not even for Ralph. Near the end when we find out WHY Moores Character broke of the relationship, i just thought it was rediculous!! Very unbelieveable...
Anthony L

I wasn?t convinced I was going to like it as I wasn?t a great fan of the book but this is a brilliant adaptation from Neil Jordan, who really captures the essence of the characters!
jay n

Good period detail but dull
Luke B

Terribly bland and brash. The film lacks elegant subtlety so just about every theme is repeated out loud and then again in Fiennes' narration which is simply laughable. Why Jordan continues to cast Stephen Rea is anyones guess. He is either a dull mess, like he is here, or an… More
Terribly bland and brash. The film lacks elegant subtlety so just about every theme is repeated out loud and then again in Fiennes' narration which is simply laughable. Why Jordan continues to cast Stephen Rea is anyones guess. He is either a dull mess, like he is here, or an over the top laughing stock. The narrative manages to strip the film of any suspense or surprises and the religious aspects come across as desperate. Hart and Isaacs give two brilliant turns as you would expect but they are never fully developed upon. A melodramatic, emotionless mess. I'll give it points for the score.
Fascade F

This has GOT to be one of the most CRAZIEST arrangements I have ever seen in the "art" of having an extramarital affair. I have got to admit it.this movie has shown me that..BEING involved is so much more than GETTING involved in one. See this...it is one of the craziest… More
This has GOT to be one of the most CRAZIEST arrangements I have ever seen in the "art" of having an extramarital affair. I have got to admit it.this movie has shown me that..BEING involved is so much more than GETTING involved in one. See this...it is one of the craziest lessons in a "love" affair I have ever viewed on film in the form of a drama.If you are involved in one...it will definitely make you think...THREE times!
hawk l

Lushly romantic, passionate war-time drama centered on a philosophical conflict between secular love and religious conversion. Ralph Fiennes limns the depths of jealousy as the brooding, thwarted lover eclipsed by Julianne Moore's alternately restrained, carnal, and ethereal… More
Lushly romantic, passionate war-time drama centered on a philosophical conflict between secular love and religious conversion. Ralph Fiennes limns the depths of jealousy as the brooding, thwarted lover eclipsed by Julianne Moore's alternately restrained, carnal, and ethereal performance. Period detail and handsome photography.
Daisy M

Some films nowadays seem to lack on feelings, but not in The End of the Affair. Beautiful film and the lead characters were great. Julianne Moore was great as Sarah Miles,and Ralph Fiennes was convincing as Bendrix. The message of the spiritual interest was very touching.The revealing… More
Some films nowadays seem to lack on feelings, but not in The End of the Affair. Beautiful film and the lead characters were great. Julianne Moore was great as Sarah Miles,and Ralph Fiennes was convincing as Bendrix. The message of the spiritual interest was very touching.The revealing of Sarah Miles' secret was handled very well, which makes you feel very sorry for Bendrix. I love the music, the visual, and the strong religious story presented in the movie.
Richard F

This is an extremely underrated achievement. This film gets everything right, I just loved it.
Linda K

A rich woman having an affair with her husband's friend is not much of an original story, nonetheless, without the great performances of these incredible actors, Ralph Fiennes and Stephen Rea, the film would have been another regular love triangle sort of film. Being the 6th or… More
A rich woman having an affair with her husband's friend is not much of an original story, nonetheless, without the great performances of these incredible actors, Ralph Fiennes and Stephen Rea, the film would have been another regular love triangle sort of film. Being the 6th or 7th collaboration of Rea with director Neil Jordan, i now understand why Jordan's obsession by casting Rea in all his film is. Rea, as the husband, gives the most poignant and powerful performance in the film. Overall, this film is very sensual in terms of the love making and the beautiful score. Plus, the dialogues and the unstopable rain give an allure to the sensuality of the film.
David S

A passionate film that is very special to me and my wife (it was the first film we saw together as a couple). It moves me every time and the performances and direction are peerless. I love it.