Overview
A forbidden love ignites between a politician and his son's fiancée, leading to devastating consequences.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- harrowing
- brooding
- intimate
- serious movie night
- art house viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the adaptation compelling and beautifully mounted, with Louis Malle’s controlled direction and the committed performances—especially Juliette Binoche’s—giving convincing force to its destructive erotic obsession.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Stephen Fleming abandons the security of political and domestic respectability as his affair with Anna becomes obsessive.
Anna is Stephen’s son’s fiancée, making their clandestine relationship an incest-adjacent familial transgression with severe consequences.
The film presents passionate sexual obsession through controlled, serious, and emotionally austere art-house drama.
Stephen’s position as a member of Parliament and his complacent family life heighten the stakes of discovery.
Films like Damage, and why
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
shares an adult erotic drama framework, forbidden desire, and emotionally destructive obsession
The Lover
shares a refined European-style romantic tragedy centered on adultery, longing, and moral disintegration
The Piano Teacher
shares intense forbidden romance, social scandal, and a coolly controlled literary drama style
Movie Details
- Director
- Louis Malle
- Release Date
- 1992-12-02
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (723)
Cast
- Jeremy Irons
- Juliette Binoche
- Miranda Richardson
- Rupert Graves
- Peter Stormare
- Gemma Clarke
- Ian Bannen
- Julian Fellowes
- Leslie Caron
- Tony Doyle
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Damage about?
- A British statesman risks family, status, and emotional ruin when he becomes consumed by an affair with his son’s enigmatic fiancée.
- What is Damage like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Damage as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Damage violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Damage as mild.
- What did critics think of Damage?
- Critics generally found the adaptation compelling and beautifully mounted, with Louis Malle’s controlled direction and the committed performances—especially Juliette Binoche’s—giving convincing force to its destructive erotic obsession.
- Which films are like Damage?
- Films with a similar feel include The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Lover, and The Piano Teacher.
- How long is Damage?
- Damage runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Damage?
- In United States, Damage is available to rent or buy from Fandango At Home.
