Dr Stephen Fleming, a physician and a government minister, gets attracted to his son’s girlfriend. He woos her and shares the same bed with her without letting his wife and son know about it.
Damage (1992)
Damage (1992)
Film Review: Damage (1992) – A Haunting Portrait of Obsession and Desire
Directed by: Louis Malle | Starring: Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson
Louis Malle’s Damage (1992) is an intense, slow-burning psychological drama that peels back the layers of human desire, guilt, and emotional self-destruction. Adapted from the novel by Josephine Hart, the film explores the devastating consequences of a forbidden and obsessive love affair.
At the center of the film is Stephen Fleming (Jeremy Irons), a successful British politician whose carefully ordered life begins to unravel when he falls into a passionate and all-consuming affair with Anna Barton (Juliette Binoche), the fiancée of his own son. What begins as lust quickly descends into obsession, and the fallout is both harrowing and inevitable. 
ÕIrons delivers a masterful performance, capturing Fleming’s quiet torment and repressed passion with precision. Binoche is enigmatic and magnetic as Anna, a woman haunted by her past and seemingly fated to draw destruction wherever she goes. Miranda Richardson, who plays Stephen’s wife Ingrid, delivers a heartbreaking performance that earned her a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award nomination.
Malle’s direction is restrained yet deliberate, allowing the tension to simmer beneath the surface. The cinematography by Peter Biziou is elegant and intimate, enhancing the emotional gravity of each scene. Zbigniew Preisner’s melancholic score adds a haunting layer to the film’s tragic arc.
Damage is not an easy film—it deals with moral ambiguity, betrayal, and the raw pain of desire unchecked. But it is precisely this emotional intensity that makes it a compelling and unforgettable viewing experience. A cautionary tale of how love, when twisted by obsession, can lead to irreversible consequences.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Dark, elegant, and emotionally powerful, Damage is a poignant exploration of the fine line between passion and ruin. A must-watch for lovers of serious, character-driven drama.
