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The Affair

Self-indulgent characters fail to generate much interest or sympathy in Carl Colpaert's "The Affair," an indie drama that recalls the most pretentious pseudo-artsy product of the 1960s and '70s. Tone is set during opening minutes as bored, beautiful wife dances with lusty hunk in seedy dive, then airily dismisses complaints of her jealous husband.

Obnoxiously self-indulgent characters fail to generate much interest or sympathy in Carl Colpaert’s “The Affair,” a homevid-bound indie drama that recalls the most pretentious pseudo-artsy product of the 1960s and ’70s. Tone is set during opening minutes as bored, beautiful wife dances with lusty hunk in seedy dive, then airily dismisses complaints of her jealous husband by bemoaning latter’s inability to “go with the flow.” After that, things only get worse.

Discontent Jean (Kelsey Oldershaw) rebels against sterile life with Paul (Horatio Ledon), a workaholic architect who’s understandably upset when his spouse starts to bump and grind with handsome strangers in grubby bars. Capriciously, she attaches herself to Viggo (Andy Mackenzie), a studly slacker who lives in a trailer. Even after she moves in with new lover, however, Jean remains in near-constant contact with Paul, if only to repeatedly tell him why they’re no longer together. “You don’t cherish me,” she helpfully explains. “You mean I don’t kiss your ass all day long,” Paul responds. Banal dialogue and unremarkable performances undermine pic’s ability to involve aud. Musical score often sounds like it should be piped into elevators or supermarkets.

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The Affair

  • Production: A Cineville presentation of a World Entertainment production. Produced by Edward Olwschak. Executive producer, Christoph Henkel. Directed by Carl Colpaert. Screenplay, Lisa Larrivee, Colpaert.
  • Crew: Camera (color), Frederic Goodich; editor, Klaus Hundsbichler; music, Erik Godal, Mark Fontana; production designer, Shirley Leong. Reviewed at WorldFest/Houston Film Festival, April 24, 2004. Running time: 99 MIN.
  • With: With: Kelsey Oldershaw, Andy Mackenzie, Horatio Ledon, Maree Cheatham, Barbara Kerr Condon, Stephanie Bentley.

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Update: 2024-08-25

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