Total Eclipse
Short description
Total Eclipse is a drama set in nineteenth-century France, following the relationship between the poet Paul Verlaine and the younger Arthur Rimbaud. Verlaine, already an established figure in literary circles, is struck by the talent and rebellious manner of the teenage Rimbaud, and the two begin an intense affair that disrupts Verlaine's marriage to Mathilde Maute and his settled life. The bond between the poets plays out against the conventions of their time, with the film tracing how their connection develops and the strain it places on those around them.
Agnieszka Holland directed the film, which sits between The Secret Garden and Copying Beethoven in her filmography. The screenplay is by Christopher Hampton, with Jean-Pierre Ramsay-Levi producing. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Rimbaud and David Thewlis plays Verlaine, supported by Romane Bohringer as Mathilde, Dominique Blanc and Nita Klein. The film runs 111 minutes and was made as a co-production between Belgium, the United Kingdom and France.
Total Eclipse drew a mixed response. Critics rated it 4.5 out of 10 across 18 reviews, while audiences on TMDB gave it 6.4 from 568 ratings and on IMDb 5.8 from 25 votes, indicating that viewers were somewhat more receptive than reviewers.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film is based on the play of the same name by Christopher Hampton.
- River Phoenix was originally considered for the role of Rimbaud, but after his death, the role went to DiCaprio.
- David Thewlis shaved part of his head for filming.
- John Malkovich was initially considered for the role of Verlaine.
- During the filming of the absinthe drinking scenes, ouzo (a colorless Greek liqueur flavored with anise) was used on the very first day. The filming went well, and from then on, ouzo was drunk instead of absinthe throughout the shoot. David Thewlis later recounted in an interview that he barely remembers filming the movie.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
