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IMDbPro

Separate Lies

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
Tom Wilkinson in Separate Lies (2005)
Home Video Trailer from Fox Searchlight Pictures
Play trailer2:05
2 Videos
3 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Romance
A couple's marriage is complicated by the introduction of a third party.A couple's marriage is complicated by the introduction of a third party.A couple's marriage is complicated by the introduction of a third party.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Julian Fellowes
  • Writers
    • Nigel Balchin(based on the novel by "A Way Through the Wood")
    • Julian Fellowes
  • Stars
    • Tom Wilkinson
    • Emily Watson
    • Hermione Norris
Top credits
  • Director
    • Julian Fellowes
  • Writers
    • Nigel Balchin(based on the novel by "A Way Through the Wood")
    • Julian Fellowes
  • Stars
    • Tom Wilkinson
    • Emily Watson
    • Hermione Norris
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 67User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations

    Videos2

    Separate Lies
    Trailer 2:05
    Separate Lies
    Separate Lies
    Clip 1:07
    Separate Lies

    Photos

    Separate Lies (2005)
    Separate Lies (2005)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Wilkinson
    Tom Wilkinson
    • James Manningas James Manning
    Emily Watson
    Emily Watson
    • Anne Manningas Anne Manning
    Hermione Norris
    Hermione Norris
    • Priscillaas Priscilla
    John Warnaby
    • Simonas Simon
    Rupert Everett
    Rupert Everett
    • Bill Buleas Bill Bule
    Richenda Carey
    Richenda Carey
    • Sarah Tufnellas Sarah Tufnell
    Linda Bassett
    Linda Bassett
    • Maggieas Maggie
    Christine Lohr
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Alice O'Connell
    • Maggie's Daughteras Maggie's Daughter
    John Neville
    John Neville
    • Lord Rawstonas Lord Rawston
    Peregrine Kitchener-Fellowes
    • Bill's Son Charlesas Bill's Son Charles
    Henry Drake
    • Bill's Son Freddyas Bill's Son Freddy
    David Harewood
    David Harewood
    • Inspector Marshallas Inspector Marshall
    Sabine Tourtellier
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    Philip Rham
    • French Lawyeras French Lawyer
    Jeremy Child
    Jeremy Child
    • Angus Burrellas Angus Burrell
    Horlicks
    • Dogas Dog
    Keith Bisset
    • Dr. Morganas Dr. Morgan
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Julian Fellowes
    • Writers
      • Nigel Balchin(based on the novel by "A Way Through the Wood")
      • Julian Fellowes
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Last full length cinema film of John Neville.
    • Goofs
      When Anne and James met out in the rain for a last goodbye it was very obvious that the rain was manufactured. The rain came down mainly where they were standing and the WAY it came down was not realistic at all.
    • Quotes

      James Manning: Oh, fuck Bill!

      Anne Manning: That's the thing really. I mean I do fuck Bill. Or rather he fucks me.

    • Connections
      Features Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1998)

    User reviews67

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Excellent depiction of a relationship and its complexities
    Another great Tom Wilkinson performance punctuates "Separate Lies," a 2005 film also starring Emily Watson, Linda Bassett and Rupert Everett. Directed by Julian Fellowes, it's the story of a married couple, James and Ann Manning where the husband (Wilkinson) believes he and his wife (Watson) are happy together. An accident near their house on the night they have a party brings the police around. It is a hit and run that killed their maid Maggie's (Bassett) husband. James becomes suspicious of a neighbor, Bill Bule (Everett) when he sees some damage on his car. He confronts Bule, who admits he did it and promises to go to the police the next day. When James arrives home, Ann is angry that he is making such a big deal out of it and states that she was driving the car.

    Of course, James then isn't so eager to rush to the police. She suggests that they call Bule and tell him their decision. "Oh, f___ Bule," James says. "Well, that's just it," Ann says. "I am f___ing Bule."

    James' devastation is just the beginning in this well-crafted drama. Without giving the plot away, this is a good example of how gender switching changes a story. Example of what I mean: Susan Smith drives her car into a lake and her children drown. She gets life in prison. What if the father had done it? The chair.

    You'd be surprised how often the outcome would be different. The same is true here - if it had been James having the affair and doing the subsequent activities, viewers might feel differently about the story. If Ann were in James' place, it would be shattering. As it is, it's tremendously sad.

    Tom Wilkinson is heartbreaking as a man blindsided by the woman he adores, and Emily Watson does a beautiful job as Ann, who, once she frees herself from her lies - her involvement in the accident and the happy marriage - knows what she has to do. Rupert Everett as Bule is very effective - indolent, uppity and ultimately in need. Everyone here is very civilized in their dealings with one another, and no one is all good or all bad.

    There are separate lies - James that his marriage is happy, Ann's as listed above - and there is one uniting lie - the accident, about which all parties keep quiet. It's enough for Ann that Maggie knows. In the end, all must deal with the separate lies that the single lie uncovered.

    Brilliant film.
    helpful•4
    0
    • blanche-2
    • Jul 7, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 2005 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Fox Searchlight (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • A Way Through the Woods
    • Filming locations
      • Turville, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Celador Films
      • DNA Films
      • UK Film Council
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $924,260
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $22,341
      • Sep 18, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,452,023
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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