The Affair (1995 TV Movie) User Reviews

A thought provoking drama

[soranno · 20 October 2002]

Courtney B. Vance is a talented actor who is often overlooked for his many fine performances. This 1995 film produced by HBO Films for airing on the popular cable network being one of them. Vance portrays an American soldier fighting during World War II who begins having an affair with a married woman (Kerry Fox). When word of their affair gets out, racial tensions emerge and the soldier stands on trial for his life all because of racial bigotry. Vance gives one of his all time greatest performances in this little known film that even by HBO standards didn't get the attention that it deserved.

I saw this movie!!!!!!

[WWWLDW2 · 10/10 · 7 February 2006]

I saw this movie and thought it was excellent. Although I am a black women who wanted to rip this white women's head off for throwing her black lover to the wolves, I kinda understood that she was face with a terrible decision to make, The man she loved, or her child. but I also felt that she should have thought about that before hand. I became caught up in their love affair and was even rooting for them. But when she turned on him in court, It ripped my heart out. To be honest, I must say she never thought the outcome would be what it was. And as always, she was what we might call "A day late and a dollar short" In trying to save him. I thought this movie was excellent from beginning to end and have been looking it on video or DVD for over 5 years. Where In The Hell Is It???!!!!!!!

Take out your handkerchiefs!

[Sylviastel · 9/10 · 7 October 2005]

I think this film is a very good television movie that did not receive a lot of credit or attention. Interracial romances have always been controversial from L.A. Law to All My Children. Remember Michelle Greene got more hate mail regarding her kiss of African American actor, Blair Underwood, than when she kissed female Amanda Donohoe and that was in the early nineties. Courtney B. Vance plays an African American soldier during World War II who meets and falls in love with Kerry Fox's character, an unhappy wife of a British soldier and mother. The casting is excellent with Ned Beatty and Rolf Saxon reminding the African American soldiers to keep their hands off the British women. I felt this film showed another side of the war. It was just as ugly. The segregation of black and white soldiers is unforgivable part of American history. I disliked the unhappy ending so I gave it a 9 but other than that. I felt this is a movie that should be seen and discussed about for years to come.

Brilliant work

[rps-2 · 9/10 · 22 July 2005]

HBO and BBC make excellent partners. This is an engrossing, powerful, emotional, brutally realistic and superbly done film which pulls no punches. I too am surprised it had so little notice. (We discovered it on 'Bravo' here in Canada.) I gave it a 9 rather than a 10 because of the excessive amount of graphic sex. One "humping scene" would have made the point. However, despite that shortcoming, this is a powerful portrayal of the racial hypocrisy of the Americans and the social hypocrisy of the British set against an accurately pictured wartime Britain.Nor, unlike so many modern films and remakes is it a "black" movie designed for black audiences. This film carries a big punch for both blacks and whites, for both Brits and Americans. Nor ---SPOILER??? MAYBE A SMALL ONE!!!--- is it cursed with the mandatory happy Hollywood ending. A real thought provoker and Friday night treat for us!

Strange Fruit....

[Old_Movie_Man · 19 February 2002]

I was sitting at home, minding my business, flipping through the channels, and this comes on HBO yesterday. I'm a Courtney Vance fan, and I thought I'd take a chance on this movie, since I'm not a war movie fan. He was fantastic. The movie was fantastic and heart-wrenching. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see a good drama.

Heartwrenching & thought provoking

[KateC49 · 9/10 · 4 March 2011]

"Oh the tangled webs we weave..when we set out to deceive.." A first rate film that doesn't pull any punches. Excellent acting by all in this, the point made that the coloured GI's were "welcomed" by the English who were going to make a point of showing some good old British hospitality to these guys regardless of the way they were treated back home. And that welcome turns to love & an affair between a coloured soldier & and a 'white' married English woman.....

The Billy Holiday music underscores a moving & thought provoking film but like others I rate this down one notch because the sex scenes were a little over done for a 1944 time period. We got the point & the passion the first time. Well worth watching though.

Thought this movie was excellent!

[jimtaylor-30828 · 10/10 · 27 September 2018]

Loved this movie but was wondering could it be purchased as a dvd? Please let me know?