Foreign Affairs

Interesting story, superb actors, fantastic dialog, beautiful scenery, real relationships, humor, smile and sorrow. In short, simple and sweet. A movie to be watched once in a couple of years and enjoy.

A friend of a friend allowed us to browse her movie collection for a few to watch one evening; this one I picked out only because it was one of the few that even looked watchable. How glad I am that it was one of our choices! It has become one of my favorites, I've watched it 5 times and am in the process of procuring a copy. Why? I can't explain, except that it takes you by surprise and touches your heart and it must go beyond that, to some glimpse of eternal truth of the human soul and spirit. Perhaps something to do with "l'beau sauvage." Even though you'd at first think the characters are stereotypes, that evaporates when Joanne and Brian BECOME the flawed but likeable Vinnie and Chuck. Please see this movie at least once, because I'd like to know if anyone else had the impulse to see it often, like I and another reviewer did. I even bought the book by Alison Lurie, from which the movie is taken; it was the same yet different (as those things go), but it was a gem also, on it's own ground! I recommend both! Soon!

This is excellent because Brian is so good at playing the big,self-assured guy who eventually finds life just a little harder to take than he had imagined. Joanne Woodward plays that sedate lady who has bound up her feelings within her, due to a bad marriage, and only Brian's character could have opened them up for her, needing her love and assurance as life deals him a heavy hand. The ending is unusual, but necessary and I loved the memories it gave. The scenery in England is beautiful and although I do not know if it was filmed there, it seemed to have been. I have watched it many times and would recommend it to all Brian Dennehy and/or Joanne Woodward fans.

For some strange reason, TV movies seem to be perceived as somehow "inferior" to the big-screen & big-bucks productions. Is it because of their comparatively limited budget and the resulting lack of "special effects"? Or is it simply a marketing issue? Be it as it may, many true lovers of film as an art do not care much about special effects, much less about the marketing involved. Those should absolutely see this delightful movie.

In a nutshell, it's a film about "senior dating", if you will, featuring two Americans in England. But their nationality is about the only thing they have in common..:) There is also a parallel love story, between a beautiful English stage and TV star and an American who is about 10-15 years her junior.

There are surprisingly few clichés, and even those are treated with intelligence. Instead, there is plenty of "class", intelligence, warm humour, wonderfully sensitive acting - not to mention the beautiful surroundings of the English countryside and the very good, unobtrusive musical score.

It's a sensitive, humorous, and ultimately poignant, film that will leave you with a warm feeling inside. "Foreign affairs" is one of those films that, for some reason, stay with you forever.

I bought a used VHS copy of this movie a few years ago without knowing what it was about but Brian Dennehy is one of my favorite movie stars and Joanne Woodward is very good too. Woodward plays the part of a reserved college professor and she and Dennehy meet on the plane going to London. Dennehy is a completely different type of person than Woodword and is trying to escape an unhappy marriage. On the plane trip she tries to avoid talking to Dennehy as she just wants to read her book. When they get to London, by accident they meet again in a store and Woodward tries to avoid meeting Dennehy. That part is very funny. No matter how much Woodward tries to get rid of Dennehy, he seems to appear where she is. The whole movie is very entertaining and if you like both those actors and a story that has everything, try to get a copy of this. I don't know why it is not on DVD because it should be when so many junky movies are on their 3rd and 4th releases and do not sell well. I would snap up a copy of this right away if I saw it on DVD and so would a lot of other people. I loved this movie. It you can find it, get it.