Dr. Stephen Fleming (Jeremy Irons) is a British cabinet minister, who lives a pleasant life with his wife Ingrid (Miranda Richardson) and young daughter Sally (Gemma Clarke). At a party one evening he meets his son's fiancé Anna (Juliet Binoche), who he is instantly attracted to. They embark on an affair behind their partners backs, gradually becoming more adventurous in their secret meetings. They are eventually discovered, and must deal with the damage. Based on the novel by Josephine Hart.