12 movies about cheating that will make you think

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Discussions about the complex side of relations from domestic and foreign filmmakers.

1. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

• Spain, USA, 2008.
• Drama, melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

Two friends - rational, strict Vicki and dreamer Christina - come to Barcelona. The position of girls in the field of love is as different as their characters. Vicki is engaged and preparing for the wedding, but Christina is free and wants to experiment. But suddenly both fall in love with the same man.

Woody Allen's film - a pessimistic explorer of the human soul - is, as usual, filled with cynical discourses about human nature, about relationships, about the vicissitudes of love. Its deep content is revealed in caustic dialogues, sharp plot twists and ambiguous interactions of textured characters.

The film is considered one of the best in Allen's career, and this was seriously contributed to by the cast. This can be seen only by looking at the contrasting tandem of Penelope Cruz, who plays the role of a passionate hysteria, and Scarlett Johansson, a gentle and thoughtful seeker.

2. From 5 to 7. Time for lovers

• USA, 2014.
• Drama, melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

Brian, a young writer, meets Ariel, the wife of a wealthy French diplomat. The marital status of a refined lady, as well as a considerable age difference, do not prevent the hero from falling in love. Ariel also likes the young man. Being in an open relationship with her husband, she without hesitation invites the young man to meet from 5 to 7 in the evening. The couple happily while away the time, but is there any prospect for this relationship?

In the film, the meeting of lovers is shown very subtly, without naturalism and vulgarity. This feature of the picture is due to the director's desire to explore, first of all, the spiritual side of the sweet, but dead-end relationship. That is why, throughout the entire action, difficult questions arise before the viewer, for example, is love possible without fidelity and is there an open relationship at all? The double impression from the love story of such different people is also reinforced by the unexpected ending of the film.

3. Wild life

• USA, 2018.
• Drama.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Jerry and Jeanette Brinson have been together for a long time, the couple have a teenage son Joe. The family moves to Montana, but life in a new place is not going well. Jerry is forced to work as a firefighter, putting himself in danger while extinguishing burning forests. During this time, Jeanette embarks on a career as a swimming instructor and has an affair with one of her clients. Joe watches as his parents' union collapses, and realizes that he cannot fix anything.

It is a quiet film with a very measured narrative pace, which seemingly shows only the usual scenes from a married life. However, the difficult relationship between the spouses, the tension in the family, the inability of the child to influence the life of the parents make the picture truly poignant and dramatic.

"Wild Life" is the first directorial work by actor Paul Dano. The film thundered at Sundance, the famous independent film festival in the United States. And the roles of Jerry and Jeanette were named by critics the best in the work of actors Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal.

4. Last night in New York

• USA, France, 2010.
• Melodrama.
• Duration: 85 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

Michael and Joanna are happily married. Once the couple comes to a corporate meeting, where it turns out that Michael is hiding cooperation with his attractive colleague Laura from his wife. Joanna begins to suspect her husband of infidelity. Her doubts are strengthened by the upcoming business trip of her husband, in which he goes with Laura … When Michael leaves, Joanna suddenly meets her former lover. And a spark runs between the young people.

"Last Night" is a very gentle and sensual film, which at the same time plays great on the nerves of the viewer. Watching the characters fight the urge and walk on the edge is very stressful. In addition, the outcome of the test of fidelity is hardly predictable.

The cast of the film deserves special mention: the famous Keira Knightley, Eva Mendes, Sam Worthington and Guillaume Canet starred in the film.

5. Anna Karenina

• UK, 2012.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 129 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

A screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Leo Tolstoy about how a married woman passionately fell in love with the young Count Vronsky. The film tells about Anna's struggle with herself, society and circumstances. And in contrast to this sad story, they show the happy relationship between Konstantin Levin and his beloved Kitty Shtcherbatskaya.

The novel of the great Russian classic was revised by the playwright Tom Stoppard. The film was directed by the famous Joe Wright. He found an interesting approach to portraying events: the action of the novel was placed by Wright on the stage of the theater. The impression of the film is enhanced by the original soundtrack, for which the film was nominated for several prestigious film awards.

6. The price of treason

• USA, UK, 2005.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

Charles's life is a boring and wonderful American dream: a man has a job, a home, a wife and a daughter. But one day the hero meets a beautiful stranger, Lucinda. The femme fatale hypnotically affects the man, and after a short hesitation, Charles invites her to dinner. Deciding on treason, he takes refuge with a girl in a hotel. Suddenly, an armed robber bursts into the room to the couple. And this is not the worst of the consequences of treason that Charles will have to face.

The picture makes the viewer regret and resent what happened, constantly scrolling through all kinds of "would" in his head. The captivating puzzle-like plot of the film surprises with its development. And the inability to predict the outcome of events keeps you in suspense until the last minute.

7. Treason

• Russia, 2012.
• Thriller, drama.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Two people get to know each other in completely unromantic circumstances: she is the doctor conducting the examination, and he is the patient. During the conversation, it turns out that their halves are having an affair. The deceived spouses want to take revenge on the unfaithful together and decide to enter into a relationship, but in the end they part. However, life prepared for both of them one more meeting, and already on completely different conditions.

Director Kirill Serebrennikov shows all the inconsistency and ambiguity of adultery. The idea that betrayal does not happen by chance, but inevitably hurts the deceived one, runs like a red thread throughout the whole story. Actors Franziska Petri and Dejan Lilic managed to show in all the subtleties the emotional state of loyal people ready for revenge. And the depressing mood of the picture is perfectly supported by the music from Rachmaninov's poem "The Island of the Dead".

Serebrennikov's subtle approach to a complex topic was appreciated: the film took part in the main competition of the 69th Venice Film Festival.

8. Tulip fever

• UK, USA, 2017.
• Drama, melodrama, history.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

Tulip mania swept Holland in the 17th century: some made a fortune in the flower trade, while others were mired in poverty.

Young Sophia is lucky, because she is marrying a wealthy city dweller Cornelis. However, there are no real feelings between the spouses. Sofia learns what passion is when she meets a young artist - Cornelis ordered him a portrait of his wife. Lovers meet while painting, but use it for privacy.

The plot of the picture tickles the viewer's nerves, forcing them to worry about the lovers and try to predict the ending. The impression is enhanced by the perfectly displayed mood of the era. This effect is created through thoughtful decorations and costumes.

9. Wheel of wonders

• USA, 2017.
• Drama.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

Ginny works as a waitress in one of the amusement park cafes. She has an unloved drunkard husband, a pyromaniac son and dashed hopes for a better life. She finds consolation only in the arms of Mickey, a young student who works as a lifeguard. Everything changes when a daughter comes to visit Ginny's husband. A young girl pays attention to Mickey, and he seems not averse to reciprocating.

“Wheel of Wonders” is another Woody Allen work in our selection: a real video play, very dramatic and intense, full of characters and strong dialogue. The director seems to be conducting a thorough analysis of human nature, trying to find the reasons for the decisive actions or passivity of the characters.

The visual presentation of the film is also worthy of the highest praise. The color scheme of flawlessly built frames is striking in its contrast, symbolism and beauty.

10. Loyalty

• Russia, 2019.
• Drama.
• Duration: 82 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 0.

Lena, a talented obstetrician-gynecologist, is married to Sergei, an actor in the local theater. In their relationship, not everything is smooth: there is a sense of alienation and tension between the spouses, and they have not had sex for a long time. Lena realizes that her husband is satisfying his hunger on the side, and also decides to cheat. The heroine does not suspect that one step to the side will pull a series of the next, and it will not be so easy to get out of this story.

The film contains a small number of erotic scenes, but each of them seems to shock the viewer. And the atmosphere of special frankness and sensuality is created thanks to the play of talented actors, including Evgenia Gromova and Alexander Pal.

The film thundered at Kinotavr in 2019 and was awarded a special jury diploma.

11. Another woman

• USA, 2014.
• Melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 0.

Mark and Carly love each other, passion and mutual understanding reign in their relationship. Carly dreams of marriage, but suddenly finds out that her chosen one is married. However, this is not Mark's only secret: his wife and Carly find out that the deceiver has another mistress, Amber. So different in nature, girls unite to take revenge on a man. As a result, they become best friends.

The film was shot according to all the canons of a Hollywood comedy and is replete with not only life humor, but also farcical absurd situations on the verge. However, despite all the comic, the picture pushes the viewer to a serious reasoning that not every marriage needs to be saved.

The film was shot by a connoisseur of the female soul Nick Cassavetes, the famous director of "The Diary of Memory". Therefore, the film is more intended for the fair sex.

12. Right to left

• France, 2012.
• Melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 5, 3.

Bernard ended up in the hospital as a result of love affairs, and is now trying to hide the trauma of the genital organ from his wife. Theobald manages to cover up all traces of betrayal, and then suddenly discovers that the dog is playing with a condom. And Simon brought his mistress to a loss of consciousness. These and other stories of ridiculous situations with traitors are told in the film, which talks about the right of men to be unfaithful.

The film consists of several sketches, shot by different directors, including the Oscar-winning author of The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius. All short stories included in the film are subordinated to one idea. They try to show the viewer how masculine nature works, and explain what drives them to betray their loved ones. Nevertheless, it is also a very witty and playful film that inevitably evokes both a bashful blush and hilarious laughter.