Exotica (1994)

The 'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs. Watches jealously, especially as far as the extra ... See full summary »

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Writer:

Atom Egoyan

Stars:

David Hemblen, Elias Koteas, Bruce Greenwood

13 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
David Hemblen	...	Customs inspector
Mia Kirshner	...	Christina
Calvin Green	...	Customs officer
Elias Koteas	...	Eric
Bruce Greenwood	...	Francis Brown
Peter Krantz	...	Man in taxi
Don McKellar	...	Thomas Pinto
Arsinée Khanjian	...	Zoe
Sarah Polley	...	Tracey Brown
Victor Garber	...	Harold Brown
Damon D'Oliveira	...	Man at opera
Jack Blum	...	Scalper
Billy Merasty	...	Man at opera
Ken McDougall	...	Doorman

Storyline

The 'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs. Watches jealously, especially as far as the extra attentions regular customer Francis garners are concerned. Thomas, meanwhile and erstwhile, goes through a series of, um, interesting situations involving his pet shop, a gruff taxi-sharing stranger, unexpected tickets to the opera and smuggled eggs of a rare bird. Multiple story lines unfold in a splendid tangle of cutbacks, forward and backward references and recurring themes, all woven around the Exotica, its customers and employees. A calm roller-coaster ride of a movie, visually and intriguingly and emotionally moving. O, and the sound track is notable, too.

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Plot Keywords:

egg | bird | nightclub | pet shop | eel | 

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Taglines:

In a world of temptation, obsession is the deadliest desire.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality and language

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

3 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Exótica

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$5,132,222 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Entertainment, Ego Film Arts, Miramax Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elias Koteas's first scene has him speaking into a microphone to the clients in the Exotica club. Koteas' first scene in Crash has him talking into a microphone to an equally selective audience (although the circumstances are different).

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Quotes

Eric: He comes in here every other night. He has his favorite drink, and his favourite table, with his favorite dancer. Sometimes he has to wait for her, and sometimes she's waiting for him, to protect him. She's his angel.

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Connections

Featured in Indie Sex: Taboos (2001)

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Soundtracks

"A chantar"
Performed by The Toronto Consort
Selected from the CD release "Full Well She Sang"

User Reviews

Very Good

Don't be fooled by the soft-porn title or the "sexy thriller" style art on the VHS box and DVD cover. This, like Egoyan's follow-up masterpiece "The Sweet Hereafter" is an intricate, elliptical, and tragic look at grief and loss focusing on the people who work at and patronize a Toronto strip club. It's all very literary and symbolic (the exotic creatures of the pet shop being audited by Bruce Greenwood's tax man with a sad secret mirroring the exotic dancers of the club where he finds his solace after hours) and surprisingly emotional (especially at the end). Character development, secrets, and inner truths are revealed slowly and carefully and in non-linear fashion by Egoyan's delicate director's hand. The "exotic" flavored yet haunting musical score is an added bonus. Worth a look if you are in the right mood and know what to expect from Egoyan.