The story revolves around the complex love triangle between Maurice Bendrix (played by Ralph Fiennes), Sarah Miles (played by Julianne Moore), and Henry Miles (played by Stephen Rea). Maurice, a successful novelist, begins an affair with Sarah, the beautiful wife of a civil servant, Henry.
The affair between Maurice and Sarah is passionate and intense, but it is also fraught with secrecy and guilt. Despite their deep love for each other, Sarah abruptly ends the affair without explanation, leaving Maurice devastated and heartbroken.
Heartbroken and consumed by jealousy, Maurice becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind Sarah’s sudden departure. He hires a private investigator, Mr. Parkis (played by Ian Hart), to spy on Sarah and report back to him on her activities.
Through Mr. Parkis’ surveillance, Maurice discovers that Sarah has been visiting a Catholic church regularly and has become deeply religious. Intrigued and desperate for answers, Maurice confronts Sarah, demanding to know why she ended their affair.
Sarah reveals that she made a promise to God during a bombing raid that if Maurice survived, she would end their relationship. Believing that Maurice had died in the bombing, Sarah made a vow to God to end the affair if he spared Maurice’s life. When Maurice unexpectedly returns alive, Sarah feels compelled to honor her promise to God, despite her love for Maurice.
Despite their mutual love and longing for each other, Maurice and Sarah ultimately part ways, unable to overcome the guilt and betrayal that have come to define their relationship. Maurice, devastated by the loss of Sarah, struggles to come to terms with the end of their affair and finds solace in writing about their doomed romance.
In the final moments of the film, Maurice reflects on the nature of love, loss, and forgiveness, coming to terms with the fact that some relationships are fated to end, no matter how deeply they are felt.
“The End of the Affair” is a poignant and emotionally resonant film that explores themes of love, faith, and redemption. Through its compelling characters and hauntingly beautiful cinematography, the film offers a thought-provoking meditation on the complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of love.