Love Affair

Love Affair

Year: 1994

Runtime: 108 min

Language: French

Director: Glenn Gordon Caron

Budget: $60M

DramaComedyRomance

A chance encounter on a flight brings former athlete Mike Gambril and the captivating Terry McKay back together. They embark on a passionate romance during a stay on a secluded atoll. To preserve their burgeoning relationship, they make a pact to reunite in New York City three months later. However, the challenges of their lives and commitments threaten to keep them apart, leaving them wondering if their connection can endure.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Love Affair yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Love Affair (1994)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Love Affair (1994). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1990s

Set in a contemporary era, the narrative unfolds across a few months with modern air travel and celebrity-work dynamics. The timeline follows a tropical interlude, a trans-Pacific voyage, and a tense, real-world test of commitment on a New York rendezvous.

Location

Moorea, French Polynesia, New York City, United States

The story moves from the tropical shores of Moorea to a high-rise New York setting. Moorea provides a sun-drenched backdrop where Mike and Terry’s romance blossoms away from their engagements. The journey culminates in a dramatic reunion atop the Empire State Building.

🏝️ Island locale ✈️ Travel

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:13

Main Characters – Love Affair (1994)

Meet the key characters of Love Affair (1994), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mike Gambril (Warren Beatty)

Charismatic sports announcer and former football star who grows disillusioned with his TV career. He pursues a deeper connection with Terry, risking his engagements, and paints a portrait of Terry wearing his aunt’s shawl, a keepsake that anchors the memory of their island romance.

💼 Career 🎨 Art 💘 Romance

Terry McKay (Annette Bening)

A singer who is engaged at the start and becomes romantically involved with Mike. She ultimately breaks off her fiancé and continues to perform, later facing a life-changing accident that leaves her paraplegic and transforms her path into teaching music.

💼 Career 🎤 Music 💘 Romance

Ginny Gambril (Aunt Ginny)

Mike’s warm-hearted aunt who hosts the couple on Moorea and offers a stabilizing, generous presence. She plays a pivotal role in the memory arc through the shawl and the aunt’s blessing.

👵 Family 🧵 Symbolism ❤️ Support

Ken Allen

Terry’s fiancé at the outset; his relationship with Terry frames the decision she faces between security and a deeper, uncertain romance with Mike.

💍 Engagement ❤️ Relationship 🧭 Choice

Lynn Weaver

Mike’s fiancée before he pursues Terry; her presence underscores the collision between personal desire and public loyalty.

💍 Engagement 💼 Career 💘 Romance

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:13

Major Themes – Love Affair (1994)

Explore the central themes of Love Affair (1994), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Romance

A chance encounter grows into a deep, transformative romance that tests existing commitments. The relationship pushes the characters to confront whether love can override social expectations such as engagements and fiancé relationships. Their connection persists as a memory that reshapes their choices.

🎭 Fame and Self

Mike’s public career and public persona clash with a longing for authentic connection and artistic fulfillment. Terry’s singing career and public image intersect with a personal gamble on love, highlighting the cost of choosing passion over security. The duo searches for a life that feels true beyond television and appearances.

🗺️ Time and Fate

The romance unfolds across a transcontinental arc, with a pivotal reunion that fate seems to redraw. An accident decades that memory—the shawl and the painted portrait—becomes the hinge of whether they can ultimately be together. The story uses time, distance, and symbol to probe if love can survive life’s interruptions.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:13

Unlock the Full Story of Love Affair

Don't stop at just watching — explore Love Affair in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Love Affair is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Love Affair Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Love Affair, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Love Affair Summary

Love Affair Timeline

Track the full timeline of Love Affair with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Love Affair Timeline

More About Love Affair

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Love Affair: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Love Affair

Similar Movies to Love Affair

Discover movies like Love Affair that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.