"An Affair" (2018)
Posted: 27 Dec 2019, 00:42
NOW STREAMING: "An Affair", a Norwegian erotic thriller from 2018, thematically close to the critically acclaimed Danish film, "The Queen of Hearts", released earlier this year. It is really quite extraordinary that two films so closely related in theme should be released in Scandinavia within such a short time span. Were the crews even aware of each other during production? It's a happy coincidence, though, and while the Danish film garnered more critical praise, I am inclined to think more of the Norwegian bid, it's just more compact, with more smoldering intensity, more destructive causality, a film that addresses its subject matter with more honesty and concern. 50 year old Anita gets a new job as PE teacher (no surprise there) at an Oslo high school, where she, fired with passion and still very attractive, gives in to the advances made by a lithe-bodied, hunky student of hers, 16 year old Markus. The boy does not come across as very bright, but that does not really matter, for physical attraction is what it's all about in this story of l'amour fou. He's a good looking guy, that Markus, a real charmer, who kindles Anita's passion with a few, bold moves. Anita's hubby, Danish lawyer Hasse, is slow to catch on, and the affair is allowed to go way too far. There are no real winners or losers in this film, no protagonists and antagonists, but the film raises an important question, why a 16 year old stalker boy, suddenly becomes the victim and Anita the predator. A film which seeks to explain rather than to condemn. Top marks.