Themes: Self-Destructive Romance, Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, Infidelity
Main Cast: Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson, Rupert Graves, Ian Bannen
Release Year: 1992
Country: UK/FR
Run Time: 111 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Adapted from Josephine Hart's spare novel by British screenwriter David Hare and French director Louis Malle, this brooding erotic drama concerns the obsessive sexual relationship between an English politician and his son's lover. Stephen Flemming (Jeremy Irons), an up-and-coming member of Parliament, has a beautiful and loving wife, Ingrid (Miranda Richardson), and two children, including son Martyn (Rupert Graves), a successsful journalist. Sparks fly, however, when Stephen meets beautiful art-world denizen Anna Barton (Juliette Binoche), Martyn's new girlfriend. A measured, seemingly passionless man who believes that life can be controlled, Stephen suddenly finds himself unable to resist brief but intense liaisons with the mysterious, melancholy Anna. Eventually she explains the palpable air of sadness that hangs over her: When she was 15, her beloved older brother committed suicide because he could not possess her. "Remember," Anna warns Stephen, "Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive." Drawn to Anna and the passion she engenders in him, Stephen tries to justify his betrayal by telling himself Martyn isn't serious about Anna; he is stunned, then, when the two announce their engagement. On the advice of Anna's mother (Leslie Caron), who sees right through the charade, Stephen tries to break things off. But soon the affair resumes with full force, eventually destroying several lives. Although Damage's stark, frank sex scenes were trimmed to attain an R rating for theatrical release, the original, uncut version is available on video and DVD. Richardson received an Oscar nomination for her work. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Review
Accomplished French director Louis Malle stays faithful to Josephine Hart's best-selling novel about obsession, deceit, and destruction, but adds the touch of humanity to these difficult subjects characteristic of his earlier works such as Murmur of the Heart (1971) and Pretty Baby (1978). Adapted for the screen by playwright David Hare, the script is a dialogue-sparse and moody psychological exploration of passionate obsession, from the sublime ecstasy of its initial grip to its inevitable tragedy. The gaunt yet elegant Jeremy Irons is adept at portraying Dr. Stephen Fleming, the distinguished, silently suffering government official with a sexual loneliness turned sexual obsession that parallels Irons' roles in M. Butterfly (1993) and Lolita (1997). Juliette Binoche's role as Anna Barton is hauntingly enigmatic and a difficult one; her pain and sadness is expressed through her gaze, her needy gestures, and her tormented silences. Similar in tone, although not as revered, as the classic Last Tango in Paris (1972), the film garnered much criticism for its abstract character motivations. Not for all tastes, this is a deeply complex and disturbing tale of unhappiness that is all too authentic. ~ Lisa Kropiewnicki, All Movie Guide
Leslie Caron - Elizabeth Prideaux; Peter Stormare - Peter Wetzler; Gemma Clarke - Sally; Julian Fellowes - Donald Lyndsaymp; Tony Doyle - Prime Minister; Simon de Deney - Young Man at DTI; Susan Engel - Miss Snow; David Thewlis - Detective; Benjamin Whitrow - Civil Servant; Luc Étienne - Lutetia Receptionist; Ray Gravell - Raymond; Jeff Nuttall - Trevor Leigh Davies MP; Linda Delapena - Beth; Roger Llewellyn - Palmer; Jason Morell - Young Man at Sotheby's; Henry Power - Henry; Barry Steam - PRime Minister's Aide; Francine Stock - TV Interviewer
Credit
Richard Earl - Art Director, Patsy Pollock - Casting, Vincent Malle - Co-producer, Simon Relph - Co-producer, Milena Canonero - Costume Designer, Michel Ferry - First Assistant Director, Louis Malle - Director, John Bloom - Editor, Paolo Mantini - Hair Styles, Zbigniew Preisner - Composer (Music Score), Linda de Vetta - Makeup, Louise Constad - Makeup, Brian Morris - Production Designer, Peter Biziou - Cinematographer, Donna Grey - Production Manager, Louis Malle - Producer, Jill Quertier - Set Designer, Jean-Claude Laureux - Sound/Sound Designer, David Hare - Screenwriter, Janine Lodge - Production Coordinator, France Lachapelle - Script Supervisor, Cordelia Hardy - Second Assistant Director, Jolyon Symonds - Second Assistant Director, Josephine Hart - Book Author
Dr. Stephen Fleming, a British Member of Parliament, is seduced by his son's girlfriend Anna Barton. Their affair intensifies as Stephen and Anna meet for sexual trysts in various locations. Stephen becomes obsessed with Anna to the point where he is willing to leave his wife, Ingrid, and destroy his relationship with his son, Martyn, in order to be with her. Anna dissuades him from these drastic steps, reassuring him that he will always have access to her even while she is with Martyn. After becoming engaged to Anna, Martyn catches her and his father having sex in a flat that Anna has rented to serve as their trysting place. The shock of the discovery causes Martyn to stumble backwards and fall over a stairway railing, plummeting to his death. Stephen is disgraced, loses his wife and his seat in Parliament, and is relegated to a life of isolation, in which he still seems to be obsessed with Anna.
The film was released on Christmas Day, 1992, and grossed $101,707 in 4 theaters in the opening weekend. It went on to gross $7,532,911 domestically.[2]
