Separate Lies MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -2

When faced with the devastating news that his wife is having an affair, James Manning (Tom Wilkinson) chooses to handle it like an English gentleman in this romantic drama. James and Anne Manning (Emily Watson), a typical well-to-do British couple, have a flat in London and a house in the country and by all outward appearances seem perfectly happy. But, after many lonely evenings due to her husbands long office hours, Anne decides to seek the companionship of William Bule (Rupert Everett). One evening while Anne and William are driving home from a nearby pub, they hit a man and decide to leave him there along the road. Annes husband learns of his wifes crime and her affair. But still deeply in love with her, he chooses to protect her from the authorities and becomes involved in the cover-up. This leads to a downward spiral of lies by each of the parties. While Separate Lies has great plot potential, the movie never quite reaches intensity.

Separate Lies shows just how entangled and escalated our lies and deceptions can become and the devastating effects an affair can have on marriage. Although ironically the movie is mainly about an affair, the sexual situations are only referenced and never actually shown, with the only nudity being a very brief scene of a womans side in her open robe and underwear. There are many instances of social drinking, and the language is often harsh with the f-word used 10 times. The violence is minimal with only one scene of a man punching another man in the face after learning of an affair. The subject of the affair and the hit-and-run accident are not portrayed in a positive light but, at the same time, are not accompanied by a great deal of repercussion for these actions. Due to the subject matter and language, this movie will not be acceptable for many viewers.

Preview Reviewer: Cindy Knott
Distributor: Fox Searchlight