Exotica (1994)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Writer:

Atom Egoyan (writer)

Release Date:

3 March 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

The 'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs...

Plot Keywords:

Egg | Nightclub | Pet Shop | Airport | Actress Breaking Typecast

Awards:

13 wins & 7 nominations

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maury Chaykin	...	Exotica Club Client (uncredited)
C.J. Fidler	...	Exotica Club dancer (uncredited)
Nadine Ramkisson	...	Exotica Club dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Atom Egoyan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Atom Egoyan		writer

Produced by
Atom Egoyan	....	producer
Camelia Frieberg	....	producer
Robert Lantos	....	executive producer
Robert Lantos	....	producer
David J. Webb	....	associate producer (as David Webb)

Original Music by
Mychael Danna

Cinematography by
Paul Sarossy

Film Editing by
Susan Shipton

Production Design by
Linda Del Rosario
Richard Paris

Art Direction by
Linda Del Rosario		(uncredited)
Richard Paris		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Linda Muir

Makeup Department
Sylvain Cournoyer	....	assistant makeup artist (as Sylvain Cornouyer)
Nicole Demers	....	makeup artist
Allison Ethner	....	tattoo artist
David Harron	....	assistant makeup artist (as David Harrison)
Debra Johnson	....	key hair stylist
Neville Ling	....	assistant hair stylist
Mary Monforte	....	assistant makeup artist
Tony Ouellette	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Sandra Cunningham	....	production manager
Robert Pazdro	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fergus Barnes	....	second assistant director
Michele Rakich	....	third assistant director
Mary Sylwester	....	trainee assistant director
David J. Webb	....	first assistant director (as David Webb)

Art Department
Robert Allistar Brown	....	set laborer
Garth Brunt	....	set dresser
Kathleen Climie	....	assistant art director
Peter Emmink	....	carpenter
Alison Ethier	....	tattoo artist
Terry Hess	....	constructor
Mark Hunter	....	propsman
Anthony A. Ianni	....	art department trainee
Brent Kelly	....	lead set dresser
Zachery Kelly	....	set laborer
Bill Koon	....	scenic painter
Doug McCullough	....	lead set dresser
Peter Miskimmin	....	propsman
Ian Nothnagel	....	set laborer
Richard Paris	....	set dresser
Paul Potvin	....	property assistant
Keith Reaume	....	set laborer
Art Verhoeven	....	constructor
Stephen Willetts	....	scenic painter

Sound Department
Tyler Allen	....	sound trainee
Gaurav Chopra	....	sound recording engineer: Bombay (as Gaurav Chopin)
Sue Conley	....	dialogue editor
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording mixer
James A. Gore	....	foley assistant
Paul Intson	....	digital editor
Peter Kelly	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Peter Melnychuk	....	boom operator
Steve Munro	....	sound designer
Daniel Pellerin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ross Redfern	....	sound recordist
Paul Shikata	....	assistant sound editor
Tony Van den Akker	....	foley recordist
Peter Winniger	....	adr editor

Special Effects by
Michael Kavanagh	....	special effects supervisor (as Michael Kavonaugh)

Visual Effects by
Jason Giberson	....	digital restoration artist
Paul Intson	....	digital editor

Stunts
Ted Hanlan	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Cynthia Barlow	....	key grip
Paul Boucher	....	focus puller
David Crone	....	Steadicam operator
Johnnie Eisen	....	still photographer
Irwin Figueira	....	best boy grip
Harper Forbes	....	fourth grip
Reni Hoz	....	clapper loader
George Kerr	....	electrician
Roscoe Kerr	....	best boy electric
Michael Kulas	....	third grip (as Mike Kulas)
Joseph Micomonaco	....	camera trainee
David Owen	....	gaffer
David Patrick	....	electrician
David Plank	....	focus puller
Anthony Ramsey	....	electrician (as Tony Ramsey)
Franco Tata	....	electrician
Mark Willis	....	camera operator: "b" camera, second unit

Casting Department
Scott Mansfield	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cori Burchell	....	wardrobe assistant
Sidney Sproule	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Chris Hinton	....	film timer
Margaret Malandruccolo	....	editor trainee
Jamie Phelan	....	editor trainee
Paul Shikata	....	first assistant editor
Wiebke von Carolsfeld	....	second assistant editor (as Wiebke Von Carollsfeld)

Music Department
David Bottrill	....	music mixer
David Bottrill	....	music track engineer
Paul Intson	....	musician: bass guitar
Ron Korb	....	musician: flute
Adel Saab	....	musician: tamobourine
Kamil Saab	....	musician: darabukha (as Kamal Saab)
Nabil Saab	....	musician: oud
Sambhagi	....	musician: shehnai (as Sambhaji)
Paul Shikata	....	music editor
Ameene Shishakly	....	musician: clarinet
Hovhanness Tarpinian	....	musician

Transportation Department
Al MacNeil	....	driver
Evan Siegel	....	transportation coordinator
Andres Vosu	....	driver

Other crew
Hussain Amarsshi	....	assistant to producers
Carolynne Bell	....	assistant coordinator
Carolynne Bell	....	craft service
Paul Germann	....	trackworks assistant
Shirley Granger	....	production accountant
Victoria Harding	....	location manager
Joanne T. Harwood	....	script supervisor (as Joanne Harwood)
James Howard	....	production assistant
Martyn Krys	....	production lawyer
Helen Lee	....	director's observer
Claudia Moore	....	choreographer
Jeff Nelson	....	location production assistant (as Jeffrey Nelson)
Rebecca Ruddle	....	office production assistant
Celeste Sansreget	....	craft service
Roland Schlimme	....	production coordinator (as Roland W. Schlimme)
Pam Simons	....	office production assistant
Virginia Smart	....	production assistant
Simone Urdl	....	assistant to director
Simone Urdl	....	unit publicist
Greg Van Alstyne	....	title designer
Eardley Wilmot	....	assistant location manager

Production Companies

• Alliance Entertainment
• Ego Film Arts
• Miramax Films
• The Ontario Film Development Corporation
• Téléfilm Canada

Distributors

• Kulturföreningen Kedjan (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Alpha Filmes (Brazil) (video)
• Alta Films (Spain)
• Artificial Eye
• Föreningen FilmCentrum (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Lume Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Miramax Films (1995) (USA)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Capers on Location  catering
• Casa Mama  music recorded at
• Film House  sound re-recording
• Francont Film  negative cutting
• Grant Avenue Studio  music mixed at
• Mosaic  catering
• Ottilie Mason Catering  catering
• Trackworks Inc.  music recorded at

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Iceland:12 | Australia:R | South Korea:18 | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alliance Entertainment

Trivia:

The director's wife, Arsinée Khanjian, was seven months pregnant when her parts in the movie were filmed.

Quotes:

Christina: Do you have a lot of friends?
Eric: Not really...
Christina: Do you ever wish you did?
Eric: Yeah.
Christina: When?
Eric: Well... like... now, for instance.
Christina: Why?
Eric: Well... I just met you. And I feel like telling somebody about it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bollywood/Hollywood (2002)

Soundtrack:

Fresh Has Jus B'Gun

Where substance prevails...

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said. "Exotica" is a great example of a movie that works with a budget limit and comes off better than all of these multi-million dollar Hollywood FX-bonanza's. An intricate and refreshing story where you get to know the characters piece by piece. The movie requires patience in the early stages, but once it clicks, there's no looking back. A masterpiece of a movie.