Total Eclipse (1995)

Director:

Agnieszka Holland

Writer:

Christopher Hampton (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 November 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Touched by Genius. Cursed by Madness. Blinded by Love.

Plot:

The self-destructive relationship between 19th-century teenage French poet Arthur Rimbaud and his older mentor Paul Verlaine.

Plot Keywords:

Poet | 19th Century | Pregnant Wife | Prison | Absinthe

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Arthur Rimbaud
David Thewlis	...	Paul Verlaine
Romane Bohringer	...	Mathilde Maute
Dominique Blanc	...	Isabelle Rimbaud
Felicie Pasotti Cabarbaye	...	Isabelle, as a child
Nita Klein	...	Rimbaud's Mother
James Thiérrée	...	Frederic
Emmanuelle Oppo	...	Vitalie
Denise Chalem	...	Mrs. Maute De Fleurville
Andrzej Seweryn	...	Mr. Maute De Fleurville
Christopher Thompson	...	Carjat
Bruce Van Barthold	...	Aicard
Christopher Chaplin	...	Charles Cros
Christopher Hampton	...	The Judge
Mathias Jung	...	Andre
Kettly Noel	...	Somalian Woman
Cheb Han	...	Djami
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aza Declercq	...	Prostitute (uncredited)
Irmelin DiCaprio	...	Nun (uncredited)

Directed by
Agnieszka Holland

Writing credits
Christopher Hampton		(screenplay)

Produced by
Staffan Ahrenberg	....	executive producer
Jean-Yves Asselin	....	executive producer
Pascale Faubert	....	executive producer
Philip Hinchcliffe	....	co-producer
Jean-Pierre Ramsay-Levi	....	producer (as Jean-Pierre Ramsay Levi)
Cat Villiers	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

Cinematography by
Giorgos Arvanitis		(as Yorgos Arvanitis)

Film Editing by
Isabelle Lorente		(as Isabel Lorente)

Casting by
Margot Capelier

Production Design by
Dan Weil

Art Direction by
Nathalie Buck

Set Decoration by
Françoise Benoît-Fresco

Costume Design by
Pierre-Yves Gayraud

Makeup Department
Anny Arguedas	....	hair stylist
Dany Beughin	....	hair stylist
Esther De Goey	....	hair stylist: Belgium
Michel Demonteix	....	hair stylist
Diana Dreesen	....	assistant makeup artist: Belgium
Bernard Floch	....	makeup artist
Odile Fourquin	....	key makeup artist
Sylvie Lorthiois	....	makeup artist
Veerle Martens	....	assistant makeup artist: Belgium
Jocelyne Millet	....	key hair stylist
An Schiettekat	....	hair stylist: Belgium

Production Management
Martine Barraqué	....	post-production supervisor
Christine De Jekel	....	unit manager
Guy De Lombaert	....	production manager: Belgium
Eric Jolly	....	assistant unit manager
Françoise Piraud	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christophe Cheysson	....	first assistant director
Serge De Closets	....	assistant director
Julien Zidi	....	assistant director
Fabrice Nordmann	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Kasia Adamik	....	storyboard artist (as Katarzyna Adamik)
Bernard Cinquin	....	set painter
Jacky Courtin	....	stand-by props
Yann Couvin	....	swing gang
Alain Darthou	....	assistant set decorator
Sven Derbaix	....	set decorator: Belgium
Anne-Marie Duval	....	assistant set decorator
Alain Fottorino	....	leadman
Henri Frèrebeau	....	construction coordinator
Julien Grisot	....	assistant set decorator
Jean-Pierre Lemoine	....	property master
Geert Loyens	....	set decorator: Belgium
Bart Luypaert	....	set decorator: Belgium

Sound Department
Michel Boulen	....	sound
Jocelyne Cartier-Stern	....	post-synchronization editor (as Jocelyne Cartier)
François Groult	....	post-synch and foley mixer
François Groult	....	sound
Dominique Lacour	....	boom operator
Marion Lorthioir	....	post-synchronization
Alain Lévy	....	boom operator: post-synch
Jacques Lévy	....	post-synchronization
Laurent Lévy	....	foley artist
Pascal Mazière	....	foley artist
Laurent Quaglio	....	sound
Bruno Tarrière	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Anthony Gaillard	....	special effects makeup
Christian Renaud	....	special effects
Philippe Teissier	....	special effects
Pierre-Olivier Thevenin	....	special effects makeup
Guy Vanderplaetsen	....	special effects (as Guy Vander)

Visual Effects by
Marc Bellan	....	digital artist
Laurent Borenstein	....	computer graphics animator
Pascal Charpentier	....	digital coordinator
Christian Guillon	....	digital effects supervisor
Christophe Huchet	....	digital operator
Joyce Menger	....	digital operator
Frederic Moreau	....	digital effects supervisor
Fred Place	....	digital operator (as Frederic Place)
Paul Swendsen	....	matte painter

Stunts
Joëlle Baland	....	stunts
Patrick Cauderlier	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Louis Angelini	....	camera operator
Michel Bubola	....	best boy electric
Willy Bulterys	....	generator operator: Belgium
Didier Colin	....	focus puller
Patrick de Ranter	....	Steadicam operator
Thierry Debove	....	generator operator
Bruno Garny	....	generator operator: Belgium
Etienne George	....	still photographer
Jean-Pierre Goilard	....	dolly grip
Bert Hamelinck	....	electrician: Belgium (as Bert Haemelinck)
Christian Krithari	....	electrician
Michel Michau	....	electrician
Gérard Mienville	....	key grip
Fabrice Moindrot	....	assistant camera
Jean-Claude Neveu	....	gaffer
Gilles Oeuvray	....	electrician
Stéphane Rouillon	....	grip
Jo Voets	....	electrician: Belgium

Casting Department
Marie-Sylvie Caillierez	....	extras casting
Katia Meulemans	....	extras casting: Belgium
Leen Verhelst	....	extras casting: Belgium

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Safira Adam	....	wardrobe assistant
Michèle Bouty	....	wardrobe master
Lydie Charpentier	....	wardrobe assistant
Françoise Dumoulin	....	wardrobe assistant
Claudine Leliart	....	wardrobe assistant: Belgium
Benjamin Lubet	....	wardrobe assistant
Emanuelle Pelletier	....	wardrobe assistant
Pascaline Van Heddegem	....	wardrobe assistant: Belgium

Editorial Department
Patrick Crucy	....	color timer
Anne-Florence Fabre	....	assistant post-production supervisor
Julie Jouaffre	....	assistant film editor
Michel LeFrançois	....	assistant film editor
Andre Nain	....	color timer
Santiago Thévenet	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Marta Boberska	....	soprano
Krzesimir Debski	....	conductor
Krzesimir Debski	....	orchestrator
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek	....	music producer
Tadeusz Karolak	....	conductor
Rafal Paczkowski	....	music recording & mixing
Krystyna Wydzga	....	executive music producer
Zbyszek Zbrowski	....	orchestra contractor

Transportation Department
Olivier Agredano	....	driver
Paco Agredano	....	driver
Daniel Argente	....	driver

Other crew
Emmanuelle Arias	....	production assistant
Simona Benzakein	....	unit publicist
Didier Carrel	....	location manager
Nicole Cobac	....	production accountant
Patrick Figueras	....	caterer: Les Traiteurs du Vern
Corinne Fournier	....	production secretary
Marine Francou-Muller	....	location scout
Hervé Gamondes	....	location scout
Frédéric Garson	....	production assistant
Laurence Gaulupeau	....	post-production accountant
Vernice Klier	....	dialogue coach
Camille Lipmann	....	location scout
Sylvie Martin	....	financial supervisor
Pierre Minot	....	location scout
Carlos Moens	....	animals and caravans
Frederic Moreau	....	supervisor: titles and opticals
Stephane Moreno-Carpio	....	production assistant
Frédéric Platey	....	supervisor: titles and opticals
Marie Saby	....	script supervisor
Mario Van Donnick	....	production assistant: Belgium
Elly Verduyckt	....	assistant location manager: Belgium
Lieve Vyncke	....	location manager: Belgium
Kalinka Weiler	....	location scout (as Kalinka Weiller-Carrasco)
Patrick Boshart	....	location scout (uncredited)
Victor Glynn	....	head of production (uncredited)
Fabien Pondevaux	....	location scout (uncredited)
John Sivers	....	corporate finance (uncredited)

Thanks
Brigitte Brauner	....	special thanks: Mairie de Paris
Patrick Millon	....	thanks

Production Companies

• FIT Productions (as FIT Production)
• Portman Productions (as Portman Production)
• Société Française de Production (SFP) (as SFP Cinema)
• K2 SA (as K2)
• Capitol Films (with the participation of)
• Eurimages (supported by)
• European Co-production Fund (with the participation of)
• Canal+ (with the participation of)
• Studio Canal (with the participation of) (as Le Studio Canal+)

Distributors

• Capitol Films (1995) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Fine Line Features (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1996) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Les Films Number One (1997) (France) (theatrical)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1998) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• ELKE (1996) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Editora Europa (Brazil) (DVD)
• Egmont (2001) (Denmark) (video) (as Egmont Film)
• Emerald (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Ex Machina (digital compositing)
• FX Cinéma (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Angels & Bermans  wardrobe supplier
• Car Grip Films  grip equipment & cars
• Centre National de Promotion Culturelle et Artistique (Palais du Peuple)  thanks
• Chemin du fer du Vivarais  special thanks
• Chevereau  camera equipment
• Clavicorde  vehicle rental
• Digimage  video transfer
• Djibouti Sheraton Hotel  special thanks
• ETS. Maril  vehicle rental: Djibouti
• Ecuries Hardy  animals and caravans
• Faugère et Jutheau  insurance
• Filharmonia Narodowa  orchestra (as Warsaw Symphony)
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Films Garantie Finance  completion bond
• France Costumes  wardrobe supplier
• Governmental Authorities of Djibouti  thanks
• Kodak  film stock
• L'Association Francaise des Volontaires du Progres (AFVF)  thanks
• L'Office National du Tourisme et de l'Artisanat (ONTA)  thanks
• La Troupe du "4 mars"  thanks
• Le Commandement des Troupes Françaises Stationnees à Djibouti  thanks
• Les Ateliers du Costume  wardrobe supplier
• Les Traiteurs du Vern  catering
• Mairie de Paris  special thanks
• Microfilms  titles and opticals
• Office National des Forêts (ONF)  special thanks
• Orchestra of The Eighth Day, The  music performed by
• PLS  vehicle rental
• Passage du Grand Cerf  special thanks
• Polskie Radio e Telewizja (PRT)  music studio (as Polish Radio and Television Studios)
• Population of Little Big Bara and of the Ghoubet-al-Kanab, The  thanks
• Présidence de la Republique  thanks
• Pyral  magnetic tape
• S.N.C.F.  special thanks
• SVL  vehicle rental
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Societe Braquenie  special thanks
• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by
• Studio Buffo  music studio
• Studios Carnot  post-production facilities (as Studio Carnot)
• Toshiba  special thanks
• Wilanow String Quartet  music performed by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and nudity, language, and some startling violence

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK | France | Belgium

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (15+) | Singapore:(Banned) | Denmark:15 (video rating) (self applied) | Argentina:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Italy:VM18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

Company:

FIT Productions

Trivia:

River Phoenix was originally attached to the project, but the part of Rimabud went to Leonardo DiCaprio after Phoenix's death.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the Café Andre where the adult Isabelle Rimbaud meets with Paul Verlaine, the typeface on the window is clearly in Helvetica, a typeface that was not created until 1954.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Paul Verlaine:Sometimes he speaks in a kind of tender dialect of the death which causes repentence, of the unhappy men who certainly exist, of painful tasks and heartrending departures. In the hovels where we got drunk he wept looking at those who surrounded us, the cattle of poverty...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Entourage: The Scene (#1.7)" (2004)

A courageous and beautiful film that talks about love and pain.

"Total Eclipses" narrates the romance that is born among the poets Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis, in a courageous and excellent performance, Thewlis plays strong scenes with experience and professionalism) and Arthur Rimbaud (Leonardo Di Caprio, before being thrown to the Hollywood's stardom in "Titanic"). The film documents, without make-ups,Paul Verlaine's slow destruction,a man who is consumed by the love and hate that he fells for Rimbauld.Director Agniezka Holland accomplished a touching and beautiful work,counting with a perfect plasticity that reconstitutes the time and the romance among the two men in a detailed way and without shame, what can,in fact,shock Di Caprio's fans in some delicate moments.Even being a little slow in a lot of parts of the story, "Total Eclipse" is efficient when its seen as a drama that lectures about the difficulty of being homosexual, but besides this topic, it analyzes what happens when people abdicate of their happiness and suffer due to social conventions, and finally it ends up in a intelligent conclusion:that only through the courage and through the love it's possible not only to break such barriers but also to achieve redemption.Director Agnieszka Holland conducts with experience a story that, in the hands of another director, could be reduced into a common and not very innovative denominator, and the lenses of her camera shows, without make-ups and courts to alleviate the impact of the scenes, the whole suffering, the prejudice and the pain that marks the relationship between Rimbaud and Verlaine. The two poets' love is realistically developed by Holland, starting by the friendship, in which the two writers begin to know important things about theirselves and discover that they have a lot in common, in terms that both are unhappy with the path their lives acquired, the doubts, the fears and the frustrations,till the beginning of the romance. The scene in which the first kiss happens, when Rimbauld seduces Verlaine and tries to get closer to him and ease his nervousness,is strong,touching and beautiful,this decisive and provocative part is filmed and written in a sweet and human way. The focus that the production gives to the story, therefore,is natural and realistic, what can scare many people away of the box- offices for the context declaredly homosexual of the story."Total Eclipse" explores and studies the relationship without making concessions and without allowing any demagogy or fear. There are rough scenes such as the one in which Thewlis is tirelessly sodomized by Di Caprio, there are moments of fondness when the two kiss each other,but in the same way the sick and morbid aspect of the relationship is expressed, when, for example, Rimbauld stabs Rimbaud's hand to prove his love.Being a heterosexual, i concluded that, instead of adopting a dogmatic and racist posture, it would be better if i could appreciate the film not as just another plot about two gay guys who are in love but I tried to enlarge my point of view, understanding that the film was, actually, a simple feeble love history marked by the suffering and resignation. Thus, I recommend "Total Eclipse" as an intelligent and efficient drama, a work that deserves to be applauded by its initiative and courage, for the excellent performances and for the safe and kind work by Agnieszka Holland, who tells a love story in a distressing and realist form. "Total Eclipses" i rated for strong sexuality and nudity, language, and some startling violence and it runs 111 minutes.The Cast: David Thewlis, Romane Bohringer and Leonardo Di Caprio.