Director Neil Jordan is overseas again, this time in post-World War II London, a proper setting for a doomed though passionate romance, which Jordan handles so well. "The End of the Affair" bears little resemblance to his earlier "The Crying Game" in plot but has definite echoes in tone.
Taken from Graham Greene's novel of the same name, it is the tale of novelist Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes) and his obsession with his ex-lover Sarah (Julianne Moore). Jordan is probably one of the few directors today ambitious enough to take on Greene's novel, which explores love, obsession and religion all in one fell swoop. He succeeds as he proceeds with "caution and respect and great talent on and off the screen," according to one reviewer.
After a mysterious break-up two years earlier, in which Sarah leaves without explanation, Bendrix stumbles across her husband (Stephen Rea — also from "The Crying Game," although this is not a comparable role) and discovers that his passion for Sarah is still alive and well.
As Bendrix is drawn again into Sarah's life, both must face complicated and painful truths about their relationship. Sarah is forced to come to grips with her earlier decision to abandon Bendrix in what has been called "a beautifully passionate and extremely romantic screen treatment"of Greene's work. By all indications, it offers a moving, if somber, evening at the movies.
The film is rated R for scenes of strong sexuality. It's playing at Market Square East on St. Thomas.
