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Exotica

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Exotica (1994)
Trailer
Play trailer1:09
1 Video
81 Photos
  • Drama

A man plagued by neuroses frequents the club Exotica in an attempt to find solace, but even there his past is never far away.A man plagued by neuroses frequents the club Exotica in an attempt to find solace, but even there his past is never far away.A man plagued by neuroses frequents the club Exotica in an attempt to find solace, but even there his past is never far away.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Atom Egoyan
  • Writer
    • Atom Egoyan
  • Stars
    • Bruce Greenwood
    • Elias Koteas
    • Don McKellar
Top credits
  • Director
    • Atom Egoyan
  • Writer
    • Atom Egoyan
  • Stars
    • Bruce Greenwood
    • Elias Koteas
    • Don McKellar
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 99User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 16 wins & 12 nominations

    Videos1

    Exotica
    Trailer 1:09
    Exotica

    Photos81

    Mia Kirshner in Exotica (1994)
    Exotica (1994)
    Exotica (1994)
    Exotica (1994)
    Exotica (1994)
    Exotica (1994)
    Exotica (1994)
    Mia Kirshner in Exotica (1994)
    Mia Kirshner in Exotica (1994)
    Arsinée Khanjian in Exotica (1994)
    Mia Kirshner in Exotica (1994)
    Arsinée Khanjian in Exotica (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bruce Greenwood
    Bruce Greenwood
    • Francisas Francis…
    Elias Koteas
    Elias Koteas
    • Ericas Eric…
    Don McKellar
    Don McKellar
    • Thomasas Thomas…
    Mia Kirshner
    Mia Kirshner
    • Christinaas Christina…
    Arsinée Khanjian
    Arsinée Khanjian
    • Zoeas Zoe…
    Victor Garber
    Victor Garber
    • Haroldas Harold…
    Sarah Polley
    Sarah Polley
    • Traceyas Tracey…
    David Hemblen
    David Hemblen
    • Customs Inspectoras Customs Inspector
    Calvin Green
    • Customs Officeras Customs Officer
    Jack Blum
    Jack Blum
    • Scalperas Scalper
    Ken McDougall
    Ken McDougall
    • Club Doormanas Club Doorman
    Peter Krantz
    • Man in Taxias Man in Taxi
    Billy Merasty
    • Man at Operaas Man at Opera
    Damon D'Oliveira
    Damon D'Oliveira
    • Davidas David…
    Maury Chaykin
    Maury Chaykin
    • Exotica Club Clientas Exotica Club Client
    • (uncredited)
    C.J. Lusby
    C.J. Lusby
    • Exotica Club Danceras Exotica Club Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Nadine Ramkisson
    • Exotica Club Danceras Exotica Club Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Atom Egoyan
    • Writer
      • Atom Egoyan
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This psychological thriller is true to its subjects as well as being complex, dynamic, and overly dramatic. How something so long ago, seemingly trivial, years later with more significant trauma, turns repressed emotions into a dysfunctional life and distorted thinking. This is all merged into a psychological menagerie that unfolds piece by piece to perfection. —benignjamin
    • cult film
    • public nudity
    • protective male
    • haunted by the past
    • grief
    • 142 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • In a world of temptation, obsession is the deadliest desire.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some sexuality and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The director's wife, Arsinée Khanjian, was seven months pregnant when her parts in the movie were filmed.
    • Goofs
      The cuts on Francis's face change size and shape throughout the movie after he gets thrown out of Exotica.
    • Quotes

      Zoe: What is this thing about Eric calling you "a sassy piece of jailbait"?

      Christina: What's this thing?

      Zoe: It bothers me.

      Christina: Why?

      Zoe: It makes you out like a child or something.

      Christina: Unlike the tartan skirt and my socks or the blouse or the way I act, right?

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Exotica/Heavyweights/The Wild Bunch/Once Were Warriors (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Everybody Knows
      Performed by Leonard Cohen

      Written by Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson

      Published by Leonard Cohen Stranger Music, Inc. (BMI) and Geffen Music

      Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.

    User reviews99

    Review
    Top review
    Interesting but too distant and cold to get into – but worth `observing'
    In Toronto is a strip club called the Exotica. Here MC Eric comperes for all the girls including his ex, Christina. One of Christina regular dances is Francis, a tax investigator who has losses and hurts that go back years. The two rely on each other, Francis especially trying to fill the void in his life, however Eric envies this relationship of need and sceptres it. Francis strikes a deal with one of his clients who is breaking the law to take revenge on Eric.

    I'm not a huge fan of Egoyan and have often found some of his stuff to be a little inaccessible and occasionally bordering on the pretentious. This is one of my preferred works by him, but that's not to say that it's perfect. The plot here see numerous ill-defined strands that centres not around the club but more around the themes of loss and relationships based on need and baggage. These themes are well brought out even if the back story is pretty weak in most of them. When the strands all come together it isn't a surprise – it has been hinted at all along – but it is a nice low key finish to the tale.

    It's hard to judge it as a film because it is too disjointed and abstract to really get into it. It sort of made me want to stand back from it and observe it, rather than get involved – like a picture for example. This distant didn't help me get into the characters but made me watch it from the outside which wasn't as good. The plot is weak but the telling is everything. Egoyan delivers the telling well and weaves an interesting story – told through the characters rather than events.

    The characters are delivered well by the actors although some have little to do. Greenwood does very well as Eric and brings a lot out and for my money Koteas is always watchable in anything he does (yes – even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!). Kirshner was too distant for me and I felt that she carried it too long and rarely let emotion touch her. I suppose her character would need to be like that but it stopped me again from accessing the film. McKellar is really a fringe player and the issues with his relationships and his smuggled eggs are basically lost in the mix in a quite frustrating manner. Happily I thought Greenwood and Koteas really held this together and kept my attention.

    The film may be flawed and be too distant and cold to be satisfying but Egoyan's telling is good and avoids being arty for art's sake or being pretentious. It is not a fantastic film but it is different and deals with themes not seen often. I found that I appreciated it rather than enjoyed it – that may be the only way in.
    helpful•4
    2
    • bob the moo
    • Oct 17, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • Hebrew
    • Also known as
      • Exótica
    • Filming locations
      • Osgoode Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Alliance Entertainment
      • Ego Film Arts
      • Miramax
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,221,036
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $100,654
      • Mar 5, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,221,036
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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