SIFF Capsule Review: A steamy drama that hints at being something more never turns the corner, seemingly unwilling to do its protagonist real damage considering that she is having sex with one of her high school students, An Affair is a well-acted but ultimately unsatisfying romp. Andrea Bræin Hovig turns in a fine performance as a teacher in a loveless marriage who becomes enthralled by a student (Tarjei Sandvik Moe) after he sends her a dick pic. Does that actually work?

The drama is interesting enough for a while, but writer/director Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken takes things in the expected (and least interesting) direction—ultimately, people are going to find out. For a moment, it looked like An Affair was going to spiral out of control and into dark territory—the teacher’s jealousy and lust driving her to extreme actions—but Dahlsbakken pulls back. In the end, what was the point?

The movie was screened at the 2019 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).

Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.