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L'Eclisse [1962]
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Imagery of the mind!
Review date: 2008-05-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
The film starts with two people silently orbiting each other as the whirr of an electric fan circulates hot air around a neat suburban apartment. The atmosphere is tense which conveys the possibility of a sleepless night spent amidst the verbal/non-verbal death throes of a doomed relationship. These first few minutes set the scene for the rest of the film - a deep exploration of human relationships, particularly the potential for emotional paralysis and incommunicable feelings of spiritual barrenness. These themes are explored through a myriad of situational compositions and introspective camerawork and, significantly, the character of the young, energetic stockbroker Piero (Delon). For me Peiro plays a key role in this film for he acts as counterpoint to Vittoria's (Vitti) angst ridden conscience. The machinations of the highly charged Roman stock exchange (the winners and losers) displays Peiro's superficial lust for life - the money-making, women with blonde hair, sport cars and luxurious property. Through Piero, Vittoria immerses herself in a frivolous encounter, occasionally interrupted by self doubt and physical withdrawal, but, portentously, proving to be an empty experience: which is skilfully juxtaposed against a sterile suburban landscape consisting of manicured green spaces, modernist architecture and urban conformity. Antonioni's use of anonymous characters, particularly the haunting last ten minutes, usurps the film's principle characters, with a skill that demonstrates that conventional narrative driven by a linear plot can be replaced with metaphorical imagery and a form of mannerism that creates a visual mindscape of intense proportions. This edition comes with an excellent discourse by a French academic.
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Reviews
Antonioni at the top of his game?
Review date: 2008-02-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
Antonioni's films are very definitely not everybody's cup of tea. But they are extremely rewarding if you take the time to appreciate their lack of pace, which succeeds in developing dramatic tension. I'd agree with the other review, concerning the relative lack of character development for the part played by Alain Delon in "L'Eclisse". But this remains a truly magnificent cinematic work. And that ending is just totally and utterly unforgettable. One of the most poignant that you will ever see in any film.
Update: 26/08/08. Just watched this yet again. The sort of film one can come back to, time and time again. (So long as one likes the style!) Alain Delon's character possibly lacks real development, perhaps, so as to reflect the superficial environment in which he plys his trade. (A stock exchange.) To call this film "visionary" is an understatement. Years ahead of its time.
Iconic cinematography with a thought-provoking finale.
Review date: 2007-09-29 Rating: 8 out of 10
The camera-angles, reflected images and stunning poses would make this a must-see film for those who appreciate a film as art. I would like to see more depth to the start of the story, where a male character is introduced but not really explained. It also contains a scene which although a sign of the times, would definitely be termed racist now. The section in the stock-exchange was over-indulged - yes, it crashed. The piece de resistance is the ending which leaves you feeling stunned and awed, not because of what is there but which is not there!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Lilla Brignone
Monica Vitti
Rossana Rory
Francisco Rabal
Alain Delon
Creators:
Monica Vitti (Primary Contributor)
Alain Delon (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Optimum Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Optimum Home Entertainment
EAN: 5055201800046
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-07-09
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 123 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1962
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Original Language)