Shubhabrata Dutta
Love is a complicated emotion, and it becomes even more difficult to understand when a person falls for someone else when they are already in a relationship. The idea of infidelity can be scary as well as exciting. No matter what a person’s reasons for cheating on their partner are, this topic contains enough drama for storytellers to explore it from different angles. In the expansive collection of movies in its catalog, Hulu boasts some of the best movies that explore the topic of infidelity, giving the audience an insight into all the ways love can work.
7. God Forbid (2022)
This documentary film showcases the 7-year sexual affair between a pool attendant, Giancarlo Granda, and Becki Falwell, the wife of evangelist Jerry Falwell Jr., who was the president of Liberty University, one of America’s largest Christian colleges as well as a well-known Trump supporter. In the film, we get a first-hand description of the whole case, including the political repercussions, from Granda himself, who reveals how Jerry watched while Becki and Granda made love. This was after Becki coerced Granda into coming to her room at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach luxury hotel in March 2012. The affair came to light in 2020. Directed by Billy Corben, you can watch the film right here.
6. The Beta Test (2021)
Directed by Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe, this gripping dark comedy-drama follows stressed Hollywood agent Jordan Hines (Jim Cummings), who is about to get married to his fiancée Caroline Gaines (Virginia Newcomb). But when he undergoes a no-strings-attached sexual encounter in blindfolds with an anonymous woman, courtesy of an anonymous letter in his mail, things start to spiral, taking a toll on his professional and personal life. As he gets increasingly obsessed with finding out who is behind the letter, one of many he discovers from the delivery guy, he drifts away from Caroline. Will his quest cost him the love of his life? Will he find the person responsible for the letter? To find out, you can stream ‘The Beta Test’ here.
5. Anaïs in Love (2021)
‘Anaïs in Love’ is as much a holiday movie as a comedy movie that deals with infidelity with lots of “falls for” in it. Directed by Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet, the film tells the story of 30-year-old Anaïs (Anaïs Demoustier), who is in an unhappy relationship with her boyfriend, Raoul (Christophe Montenez), when a married man, Daniel (Denis Podalydès), much aged, falls for her. With Anaïs looking for a way out, the unlikely pair tries to get things going. But this is not what the movie is about. It is about what happens when Anaïs falls in love with Daniel’s live-in partner Emilie (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), a famous writer. As Anaïs hangs out with Emilie in the gorgeous terrain of the Brittany peninsula, we get a sense of unfiltered longing and belonging that the two women are secretly brewing for each other. You can watch the film here.
4. Deep Water (2022)
Starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas, ‘Deep Water’ is an erotic thriller that offers ample amounts of eroticism, thrill, and motivated infidelity or infidelity that has a motive behind it. Vic (Affleck) and Melinda (de Armas) are married and have a daughter, but their complicated relationship is based on a peculiar arrangement made to avoid the mess that a divorce brings. Melinda is allowed to have affairs and sleep with other men. But when one of Melinda’s lovers is murdered, eyes turn to Vic, who has already claimed to have killed another lover of hers. Was he serious, or was he kidding? ‘Deep Water’ is directed by Adrian Lyne and based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1957 novel. Feel free to check out the film here.
3. Both Sides of the Blade (2022)
Sara’s perfect romantic life with Jean, a guy with a criminal past, has no flaws whatsoever, and director Claire Denis makes it very clear. However, when Sara spots her ex-boyfriend François, old feelings return along with the sleepless nights they bring. With the past returning, Sara’s romantic life begins to spiral along with Jean’s attitude. Meanwhile, Sara takes to François’ return to her life, kicking off a love triangle plot whose end is unexpected. Starring Juliette Binoche as Sara, Vincent Lindon as Jean, and Grégoire Colin as François, ‘ Both Sides of the Blade’ is a sharp and intimate erotic thriller and a unique addition to the infidelity genre. You can watch it here.
2. Sideways (2004)
Starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh, and Virginia Madsen, ‘Sideways’ is an Academy-winning comedy drama based on Rex Pickett’s eponymous novel. It centers on two men, one of whom is getting married, taking a road trip to Santa Barbara County wine country to celebrate the occasion. When the soon-to-be-groom guy shows his interest in having one last sexual fling, fate throws in a beautiful wine pourer. His friend, too, finds himself attracted to a waitress. As the two pairs kick off their flings without having any idea about the power of truth to unfold itself, we get a thoroughly entertaining drama laced with thoughtfulness, charm, and humor, backed by powerful performances. You can watch ‘Sideways’ here.
1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ takes us back to 18th century France, where we come across Marianne (Noémie Merlant), who is a painter and her subject, the bride-to-be Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). The groom has to like Héloïse’s portrait before they can get married. Héloïse, who is reluctant to get married, isn’t ready to get the painting made. Thus, the only way for Marianne is to keep her company during the day, as a companion, so that she can learn about her, physically and emotionally, and paint her portrait during the night. This process is what slowly turns into a romance that is painful, thrilling, and exquisite. ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ is a masterpiece by Céline Sciamma. You can check out the film here.
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