The Eclipse (2009)

In a seaside Irish town, a widower sparks with a visiting horror novelist while he also begins to believe he is seeing ghosts.

Director:

Conor McPherson

Writers:

Conor McPherson (screenplay), Billy Roche (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Ciarán Hinds, Iben Hjejle, Aidan Quinn

5 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Roche	...	Jim Belton
Eanna Hardwicke	...	Thomas Farr
Hannah Lynch	...	Sarah Farr
Ciarán Hinds	...	Michael Farr
Mac	...	Ringo the Dog
Avian Egan	...	Eleanor Farr
Aidan Quinn	...	Nicholas Holden
Hilary O'Shaughnessy	...	TV Interviewer
Jim Norton	...	Malachy
Nuala Casey De Backer	...	Festival Organiser
Sarah Murphy	...	Festival Volunteer
Iben Hjejle	...	Lena Morrell
Mia Quinn	...	Ghost Girl
Declan Nash	...	Man in Hotel Bar
Valerie Spelman	...	Jenny Sewell

Storyline

Having lost his beloved wife to cancer, the dejected widower and father of two, Michael Farr, is still struggling to find his feet in the Irish seaport town of Cobh. To keep his mind occupied, Michael volunteers for the picturesque town's annual literary festival, transporting famous authors such as the self-centred American novelist, Nicholas Holden, and the quiet British ghost-story writer, Lena Morelle, to various events. Once, those two polar opposites had a meaningless fling; however--even though Nicholas is still eager to pick up where they left off--more and more, Lena finds herself attracted to the sombre Michael, whose father-in-law's eerie ghost haunts him in the dead of night. Is this dreadful apparition a tangible manifestation created by a wounded soul?

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Plot Keywords:

widower | ghost | novelist | irish | kiss | 

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Taglines:

If there is life after death - love lives on

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 2010 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Oliki ekleipsi

Filming Locations:

Cobh, County Cork, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,207, 28 March 2010

Gross USA:

$133,411

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$159,852

Company Credits

Production Co:

Treasure Entertainment, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Broadcasting Commission of Ireland

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Never finds its audience

I recently saw this at the 2010 Palm Springs International Film Festival. The story is loosely based on a short story by Billy Roche from his short story collection 'Tales from Rainwater Pond' and adapted for the screen by playwright/writer/director Conor McPherson. Set in Cobh County, Ireland, they are holding an annual literary festival and widowed father of two, Michael Far (Ciarán Hines) as a volunteer, has been assigned to drive several prominent novelists coming to the festival including reluctant attendee, supernatural novelist Lena Morelle (Iben Hjejle) and an even more reluctant attendee in Nicholas Holden (Aiden Quinn). The married Holden and the single Morelle have had a romantic affair in the past. Holden and Far start off on the wrong foot while Morelle has an attraction to Far. Far's father-in-law is dying and Far has been seeing ghosts of those who are dead and those who are not yet dead. Nicely photographed by Ivan Reynolds there are a lot of interesting elements going on here but the story never seems to find itself on film. There are dramatic moments and some light subtle comedy but also some classic horror movie devices that seem out of place with the mood of the film. It almost ventures into being a psychological thriller and then pulls back. Quinn is a great actor but he's too over the top in this role. Hinds and Hjejle are in turn great but there is little on screen chemistry between them. There are many lose ends here that leave the audience scratching their heads and I don't think this film ever really finds its audience. I would give this a 6.0 out of 10.