Shubhabrata Dutta
Harsh Vardhan
Throughout history, romantic relationships have been the driving force behind some of the best works of art. So, when we speak about stories where such relationships take a turn for the worse, it is only more fodder for a dramatic tale. If you are disenchanted with the many romantic comedies out there and want to watch films where a character in a committed relationship looks for happiness elsewhere, Prime Video offers you a variety of options in the stories that explore a different side of love. Here, we bring you four films that showcase such stories.
6. Infidelity (2004)
This film was released as a TV movie and follows a therapist named Danielle, who finds herself building two opposite lives: one with her husband Jim, and one with a younger guy named Miguel. The question is which one she will choose because she very well knows that she cannot continue like this. Will she let her desire take over her married life, or will it be the other way around? Directed by Harry Winer, ‘Infidelity’ stars Kim Delaney, Kyle Secor, and Cristián de la Fuente. You can watch it here.
5. The Lover (1985)
This Israeli film is based on A. B. Yehoshua’s 1977 novel of the same name and is directed by Michal Bat-Adam. The film follows Adam (Yehoram Gaon) and Asia (Michal Bat-Adam), a married couple with a daughter named Daphna. It’s been a long time since Adam and Asia were sexually active. However, when Gabriel arrives to help Asia with her Ph.D, she finds herself attracted to her, and they begin a passionate sexual affair, thereby setting off a chain of events that explores the fragile nature of relationships and the lines that we draw to keep them from getting mixed. A scandal at the time of release, ‘The Lover’ would go on to become a commercial success. You can watch the film here.
4. The Deep Blue Sea (2011)
Starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Ann Mitchell, and Simon Russell Beale, this romantic drama explores the romantic affair between Hester Collyer, the younger wife of Sir William Collyer, who is a High Court judge, and World War II Royal Air Force pilot Freddie Page who is still grappling with the traumas of the war. The film is set in 1950, which means World War II has just gotten over, and we see Hester trying to take her own life, but she fails. After this, we get to see her dilemma in the form of flashbacks, i.e., how her married life with Beale brought stability but was devoid of sexual passion, whereas her affair with Freddie brought passion but had no stability. She is thus stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. The film is directed by Terence Davies. You can watch it here.
3. Infidelity (2020)
‘Infidelity’ revolves around estranged sisters Lena and Tracy, who share a dark past and a distaste for each other. Although Lena is in a loving marriage with Sergey, their relationship is devoid of any physical contact, leaving her sexually unsatisfied. Lena tries to reach out to her husband in every way possible but grows quite jealous when she finds out about her husband’s infidelity.
Incidentally, Sergey is cheating on Lena with her sister Tracy. Thus, Lena decides to take matters into her own hands and seduces Tracy’s husband to fulfill her desires. However, this tangled web of adultery and lies does not end well for either sister, as a terrifying incident throws both families into a downward spiral. You can check out the film here.
2. Gehraiyaan (2022)
‘Gehraiyaan’ follows 30-year-old Alisha Khanna (Deepika Padukone), a yoga instructor who struggles to provide for her unemployed boyfriend. She also lives with severe anxiety issues stemming from her mother’s death by suicide and is depressed because her career seems to be going nowhere. However, when all hope seems lost, her cousin, Tia, and Tia’s fiancé, Zain, arrive to brighten up her life.
Although Alisha revels in the sudden welcome change, she connects with Zain over their traumatic past and begins a secret affair with him. The rest of the movie follows Alisha as she struggles to accept her decisions, tries her best to make things right, and finally realizes that one must live with the consequences of one’s actions no matter how dark and hurtful they might be. You can watch the movie here.
1. A Royal Affair (2012)
Set in 18th-century Denmark, this period drama is directed by Nikolaj Arcel. It follows the affair between Caroline Matilda (Alicia Vikander) of Great Britain, married to the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark (Mikkel Følsgaard), and the King’s physician/royal advisor Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen). How the two try to work on and introduce new laws as per the Enlightenment era and what their fates have in store for them have been portrayed brilliantly and underscored by praiseworthy performances. The film has a tragic ending, but it fulfills what it aims to do, i.e., move us. You can stream it here.
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