Bitter Moon (1992)

British couple Fiona and Nigel Dobson are sailing to Istanbul en route to India. They encounter a beautiful French woman, and that night Nigel meets her while dancing alone in the ship's ... See full summary »

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Gérard Brach (screenplay), John Brownjohn (screenplay),

Stars:

Peter Coyote, Emmanuelle Seigner, Hugh Grant

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Coyote	...	Oscar
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Mimi
Hugh Grant	...	Nigel
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Fiona
Victor Banerjee	...	Mr. Singh
Sophie Patel	...	Amrita Singh
Patrick Albenque	...	Steward
Smilja Mihailovitch	...	Bridge Player
Leo Eckmann	...	Bridge Player
Luca Vellani	...	Dado
Richard Dieux	...	Partygoer
Danny Wuyts	...	Bandleader (as Danny Garcy)
Daniel Dhubert	...	Bus Inspector
Nathalie Galán	...	Girl in Boutique (as Nathalie Galan)
Eric Gonzales	...	Cook

Storyline

British couple Fiona and Nigel Dobson are sailing to Istanbul en route to India. They encounter a beautiful French woman, and that night Nigel meets her while dancing alone in the ship's bar. Later he meets her crippled American husband Oscar, who tells him their story. While living in Paris for several years trying to be a writer, he becomes obsessed with a woman he met by chance on a bus. He tracks her down and they start a steamy love affair. Soon Oscar finds himself enslaved body and soul by her love, and continues to tell Nigel the details of this relationship in various stages over a number of visits to Oscar's cabin.

---

Plot Keywords:

abuse | wheelchair | love | accident | sex | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for the strong depiction of a perverse sexual relationship

Details

Country:

France UK USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

11 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bitter måne

Filming Locations:

Paris Studios Cinéma, Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,862,805 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Les Films Alain Sarde

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Woods was cast in the Peter Coyote part but dropped out.

---

Goofs

In the scene when Mimi cuts her hair for the first time and bakes a Turkey for Oscar, he is wearing the same turtle necked blue sweater that was ripped off with a razor blade during a previous sex game.

---

Quotes

Oscar: We were developing a narcotic dependence on television - the marital aid that enables a couple to endure each other, without having to talk.

---

Connections

Featured in Indie Sex: Taboos (2001)

---

Soundtracks

"STOP"
Written by Bruce Brody and Sam Brown (as Samantha Brown) and Gregg Sutton
Performed by Sam Brown
Courtesy of A&M/Polygram Special Projects

User Reviews

Bitter Moon. A forgotten masterpiece

Every man should watch this film, it is a Polanski masterpiece. The parts are wonderfully played and the script is menacingly accurate. Why it didn't get greater exposure at the time or since baffles me, particularly as two of the principle characters have since become "famous" , Hugh Grant and Kristan Scott Thomas.

Most men will empathise with the morality or lack of in this confused relationship between an older man obsessed with his sexual object in the form of the stunning French actress, and her adoration for him. The haunting reality is that for so many the lack of depth in a relationship is frightening once the sexual desire diminishes. An awesome film 10 out of 10.