Bitter Moon (1992)

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Gérard Brach (screenplay)
John Brownjohn (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 March 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

British couple Fiona and Nigel Dobson are sailing to Istanbul en route to India. They encounter a beautiful French woman...

Plot Keywords:

Dominatrix | Wheelchair | Footsie Under The Table | Sex Game | Passion

Cast

Hugh Grant	...	Nigel
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Fiona
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Mimi
Peter Coyote	...	Oscar
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

Also Known As:

Lunes de fiel (France)

Runtime:

140 min | Argentina:119 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Brazil:14 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Mexico:C | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Continuity: 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: Have you ever truly idolized a woman? Nothing can be obscene in such love. Everything that occurs in between it becomes a sacrament.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Taboos (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Katia Flavia A Godiva Do Iraja

Compelling, delightful film!

This film is utterly compelling - it will have you glued to the screen. It's about 2 hours and 15 minutes long, yet it never loses its grip. Although there are a few "funny" moments, you can never be sure whether they were intentional or not. The pacing is slow but wonderfully methodical. But what really makes this picture delightful is the level of the acting of the male stars. While the female leads are a bit stiff (the film's major flaw), the cynical Coyote and, especially, the charmingly shy Grant (his performance here is underrated) provide two different ways for the viewer to enter the story and their interplay is offbeat and endlessly entertaining. This is methodical, first-rate filmmaking by Polanski.