Total Eclipse (1995)

Young, wild poet Arthur Rimbaud and his mentor Paul Verlaine engage in a fierce, forbidden romance while feeling the effects of a hellish artistic lifestyle.

Director:

Agnieszka Holland

Writer:

Christopher Hampton (screenplay)

Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio, David Thewlis, Romane Bohringer

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Arthur Rimbaud
David Thewlis	...	Paul Verlaine
Romane Bohringer	...	Mathilde Maute
Dominique Blanc	...	Isabelle Rimbaud
Félicie Pasotti	...	Isabelle, as a child (as Felicie Pasotti Cabarbaye)
Nita Klein	...	Rimbaud's Mother
James Thierrée	...	Frederic (as James Thiérrée)
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

Storyline

In 1871, Paul Verlaine (1844-1896), an established poet, invites boy genius Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891) to live with Paul and his young pregnant wife, Mathiltde, in her father's home in Paris. Rimbaud's uncouth behavior disrupts the household as well as the insular society of French poets, but Verlaine finds the youth invigorating. Stewed in absinthe and resentment, Verlaine abuses Mathiltde; he and Rimbaud become lovers and abandon her. There are reconciliations and partings with Mathiltde and partings and reconciliations with Rimbaud, until an 1873 incident with a pistol sends one of them to prison. Codas dramatize the poets' final meeting and last illnesses.

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Plot Keywords:

poet | 1870s | pregnant wife | absinthe | gay | 

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Taglines:

Impassioned by genius. Inflamed by desire. Imprisoned by love.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line Features

Country:

UK France Belgium

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

El fuego y la sombra

Filming Locations:

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Brussels, Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$339,889

Company Credits

Production Co:

FIT Productions,Portman Productions,Société Française de Production (SFP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Malkovich was initially attached to play Verlaine, but pulled out.

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Goofs

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.

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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. He lifted up drunks in the black streets. He had the pity a bad mother has for small children. He moved with the grace of a little girl at catechism. He pretended to know about everything, business, art, medicine. ...

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Connections

Referenced in Entourage: The Scene (2004)

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Soundtracks

Memory
Written by T.S. Eliot
Composed by Trevor Nunn and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Arranged by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
Performed by Warsaw Symphony Orchestra and Wilanow String Quartet

User Reviews

Hauntingly moving story, highly recommended.

First off, this movie definitely deserves it's 'R' rating. So if you're a young Leo fan, don't bother. You're too young to see it and far too young to understand it.

Onto the review. I was deeply moved by this movie. I thought Leo DiCaprio (who I usually despise) was excellent in his role. He played the part of bisexual Arthur Rimbaud very well. Very believable. David Thewlis' role was also very well acted (and quite impressive) as Paul Verlaine.

Most have said it's not an accurate portrayal of what really went on....well that's what the disclaimer on the beginning of the movie states. If you missed it, don't complain.

Basically, it will move you (unless you have no emotion at all), make you think, and perhaps shock you a bit (mainly Paul's behavior toward his wife was a bit shocking). But it is a beautifully artistic film and I urge fans of this genre to experience it.