Bitter Moon (1992)

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Roman Polanski (screenplay)
Gérard Brach (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

11 March 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Abuse | Wheelchair | Love | Accident | Sex

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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
Jim Adhi Limas	...	Thai Maître D' (as Jim-Adhi Limas)
Boris Bergman	...	Oscar's Friend
Olivia Brunaux	...	Cindy
Heavon Grant	...	Basil
Charlene	...	Hooker
Geoffrey Carey	...	Neighbour with Dog
Robert Benmussa	...	Flight Dispatcher
Claire Lopez	...	Model
Shannon Finnegan	...	Housewife
Frédérique Lopez	...	Brunette (as Frederique Lopez)
Ysé Tran	...	Eurasian Girl (as Yse Marguerite Tran)
Claude Bonnet	...	Mayor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stockard Channing	...	Beverly (uncredited)

Directed by
Roman Polanski

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gérard Brach		screenplay (as Gerard Brach)
John Brownjohn		screenplay
Pascal Bruckner		novel "Lunes de Fiel"
Jeff Gross		script collaboration
Roman Polanski		screenplay

Produced by
Robert Benmussa	....	executive producer
Roman Polanski	....	producer
Alain Sarde	....	co-producer
Timothy Burrill	....	co-producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Vangelis

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hervé de Luze		(as Herve De Luze)

Production Design by
Willy Holt
Gérard Viard		(as Gerard Viard)

Costume Design by
Jackie Budin

Makeup Department
Loli Avellanas	....	hair stylist (as Lolita Avellanas)
Alain Bernard	....	hair stylist
Sophie Harvey	....	makeup artist
Didier Lavergne	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jean-Marc Abbou	....	unit manager
Jean-Jacques Damiani	....	production manager
Françoise Piraud	....	post-production manager
Daniel Szuster	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Bartonio	....	first assistant director
Emanuel Booz	....	second assistant director (as Emmanuel Booz)
Patrick Boshart	....	second assistant director
Michel Cheyko	....	first assistant director
Anne Trinquelle	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Benoît Clémenceau	....	production buyer (as Benoit Clemenceau)
Jean-Michel Ducourty	....	assistant art director
Maurice Guarguir	....	set painter
Marcel Laude	....	property master
André Loisif	....	construction manager (as Andre Loisif)
Jean-Claude Perchet	....	set dresser
Jacques Quinternet	....	production buyer
Philippe Turlure	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Jean-François Auger	....	post-synch mixer
Jean-Marie Blondel	....	boom operator
Daniel Brisseau	....	sound
Mimi Dashefski	....	dialogue editor
Roberto Garzelli	....	sound editor
Lizzie Gelber	....	adr editor (as Lizabeth Gelber)
Anne-Marie Leduc	....	dialogue editor
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	foley artist
Marion Lorthioir	....	post-synchronization
Jacques Lévy	....	post-synchronization (as Jacques Levy)
Mario Melchiorri	....	foley artist
Ray Merrin	....	sound mixer
Laurent Quaglio	....	sound editor
Bill Rowe	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Jean-François Cousson	....	special effects
Pierre Foury	....	special effects
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects
Benoît Lestang	....	special effects
Frederic Moreau	....	optical effects supervisor
Jean-Louis Trinquier	....	special effects
Paul Wilson	....	special effects

Stunts
Jean-Louis Airola	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Marie Benoît	....	electrician (as Jean-Marie Benoit)
Roberto de Franceschi	....	assistant camera (as Roberto De Franceschi)
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
Etienne George	....	still photographer
André Haidant	....	grip (as Andre Haidant)
Gérard Haidant	....	grip (as Gerard Haidant)
Jean Harnois	....	camera operator
François Lauliac	....	focus puller
Jean-Claude Le Bras	....	gaffer (as Jean-Claude Lebras)
Valérie Le Gurun	....	electrician (as Valerie Le Gurun)
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
André Thiéry	....	key grip (as Andre Thiery)
Jean-Pierre Voisin	....	electrician
Alex Howe	....	focus puller: sfx unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Alberte Garo	....	crowd casting
Françoise Menidrey	....	casting: France
Mary Selway	....	casting: UK
Bonnie Timmermann	....	casting: USA (as Bonnie Timmerman)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ann Dunsford	....	wardrobe master (as Anne Dunsford-Varenne)
Laurent Ferrie	....	tailor
Gerard Staub	....	dresser

Editorial Department
Nadia Ben Rachid	....	assistant editor
Caroline Coudin	....	assistant editor
Glenn Cunningham	....	associate editor
Yvan Lucas	....	color grader

Music Department
Philippe Colonna	....	music mixer
Philippe Colonna	....	music recordist
Frédéric Rousseau	....	music mixer
Frédéric Rousseau	....	music recordist
Vangelis	....	musician

Transportation Department
Gilles Saulnier	....	driver

Other crew
Sylvette Baudrot	....	continuity
Aude Boedec	....	production secretary
Jean-Pierre Bonnet	....	production accountant
Quinn Donoghue	....	unit publicist
Christophe Folcher	....	trainee
Laurence Granec	....	unit publicist
Philippe Guiraud	....	stand-in
Jean-Marc Homand	....	production accountant
Jennifer Patrick	....	dialogue coach
Fabien Pondevaux	....	trainee
Redha	....	choreographer
Alain Sarde	....	presenter
Natala Sevenants	....	stand-in
Brigitte Squara	....	trainee
Bruno Vignier	....	location manager
Jack Waltzer	....	drama coach
Peter Zewald	....	legal advisor

Production Companies

• Canal+ (with the participation of)
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Les Films Alain Sarde (with the participation of)
• R.P. Productions
• Timothy Burrill Productions

Distributors

• AMLF (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Fine Line Features (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1992) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (Spain)

Other Companies

• Air France  thanks
• Audio 24/25  sound transfer
• Cerruti 1881  Peter Coyote's costumes
• DDA Public Relations (DDA)  publicity
• Eclair  film lab
• Editions du Seuil  novel "Lunes de Fiel" published by
• Epsilon Laboratories  music recorded at
• Films Garantie Finance  completion bond
• Le Chartier Malatier  insurance
• Magic Camera Company, The  titles and opticals
• Microfilms  titles and opticals
• S.I.S.  post-synchronization
• Transpalux  lighting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for the strong depiction of a perverse sexual relationship

Runtime:

139 min | Argentina:119 min

Country:

France | UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:R | Brazil:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Mexico:C | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:18 | Italy:VM14

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: At about 1:49 when Mimi takes off her shoes and Oscar has wet himself, the position of the visible shoe on the floor varies between shots (points 180 degrees the other way).

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "100 höjdare: Sveriges skönaste människor: Norrland (#4.4)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Faith

Entrancing, mesmeric and serpentine

The film begins with the camera focused on the sea and the waves, and the music with the piano playing to good effect, then an increasingly enlarging zooming shot of a porthole. Then to the cruise liner where the four main characters are based. It is a story narrated and told by Oscar, played by Peter Coyote, who is wheelchair-bound, to Nigel, played by Hugh Grant, a man he meets on the cruise. Nigel is intrigued by an entwining and serpentine tale Oscar tells him, and so are we, and even though it starts to sound incredulous, he has to return to Oscar's quarters to hear more. The tale is so engrossing because it concerns Oscar's beautiful, sultry and seductive wife, Mimi, played mesmerisingly by Emmanuelle Seigner. Oscar is entranced at first with her and delves into all kinds of sexual games, then his passion for her begins to subside and he rejects her and leaves her alone on a plane. All the while Nigel's wife (Kristin Scott-Thomas) is becoming disillusioned with Nigel's fascination with Mimi and Oscar. I do not want to unveil anymore, just to implore you to watch this film and let it mesmerise you, like it did me. I felt as though I had to keep watching and somehow I did not want to leave and let go of it until the end.