Damage
(1992)

Dr Stephen Fleming (Jeremy Irons), a married British MP, begins an affair with his son Martyn's fiancee Anna (Juliette Binoche).

Eventually Martyn accidentally discovers the two in bed, and stumbling backwards in shock, falls over a staircase railing and down three floors to his death. Anna returns to a former boyfriend. Stephen, having lost his son, wife, political career and lover, becomes a recluse in the south of France.

The closing scene shows him eating alone in an apartment staring at a wall-sized photograph of himself, Martyn and Anna.

Thanks Cheryl!
For Cheryl's longer version, go HERE

(Links open in new window)
Read more about this film at The Internet Movie Database.


DVD

DVD

Dr Stephen Fleming (Jeremy Irons) is a respected British MP who is tipped to
become the next Minister of Health. He has a pretty wife Ingrid (Miranda
Richardson) and two lovely children - a son Martyn (Rupert Graves) and a
daughter Sally (Gemma Clarke).

One evening, at a cocktail party, a mysterious young woman (Juliet Binoche)
approaches Stephen after the two exchange a long stare. She introduces herself
as Anna Barton and then reveals she is Martyn's fiancee. Despite this fact and
Stephen's better judgment the two begin a passionate affair. Stephen becomes
increasingly jealous and possessive over time, even leaving a UN conference in
Brussels to demand an encounter with Anna in Paris, where she is holidaying
with Martyn.

Eventually Stephen asks Anna to leave Martyn for him. She refuses, asking if
he really wants their relationship to be like a normal married couple's. He
seems to resign himself to the fact that he does prefer the illicit affair.

As it turns out, Anna has been psychologically damaged as a result of her
brother's incestuous love for her during adolescence. He commits suicide one
night after seeing her go on a date with another man, Peter Wetzler (Peter
Stormare). Anna and Peter became lovers that night but later separated,
although he maintains a constant presence in her life, to Stephen's chagrin.

Anna's mother Elizabeth (Leslie Caron) visits London at immediately sees what
has happened between Stephen and Anna. She also notes to the family that
Martyn bears a striking resemblance to Anna's deceased brother, although
nobody except Stephen knows how he died. Anna's mother privately tells Stephen
that the marriage is a wonderful opportunity for Anna. She asks Stephen not to
ruin it for her. Sadly, Stephen realises Elizabeth is right and breaks the
relationship off.

However, this does not last and later Anna sends Stephen a key to a third
floor apartment. Martyn has since moved in with her and so she has rented an
apartment to continue their trysts. Stephen and Anna being seeing each other
regularly again. One day, the landlord of the apartment rings Anna's home
regarding a water heater which needs to be fixed. Martyn answers and is
puzzled by the fact Anna has another rented apartment. He calls her workplace
but she has left to meet his father. Martyn decides to visit the address the
landlord has given him. Finding the door unlocked, he discovers his father and
fiancee in bed together. Stunned, he walks backward slowly and falls over the
low staircase railing to his death. Stephen rushes out and holds his dead son,
crying. Anna slips out and is gone before the ambulance arrives.

Stephen later returns home to face his wife, who has beaten her face up
to "let the pain out". She goes into hysterics and ends up crying in his arms.
Stephen gives her some sedatives and binds up her wounds. The next day, Ingrid
says there is only one person for everyone..."For you, Anna. For me, Martyn.
For Anna, who?" revealing her infatuation for her own son. Stephen then goes
to meet the journalists waiting downstairs in his house and announces his
resignation from politics.

Afterwards, Stephen visits Elizabeth's hotel suite in search of Anna.
Elizabeth says Anna is not there and that she always goes back to Peter. Just
as Stephen is leaving, he senses her and bursts into an adjacent room where
Anna is sitting quietly. However, the two do not reconcile and the closing
scenes show a long-haired Stephen walking alone in a small French town. He
says he found a life of his own. The only other time he ever saw Anna was in
an airport. She did not see him but was with Peter, and was carrying a baby.
The story ends showing Stephen eating alone in an apartment staring at a blown
up photo of Martyn, Anna and himself, having lost his son, wife, career,
reputation and lover.