Eclipse Reviews

Yet another update of Arthur Schnitzler's Reigen, this gorgeously photographed but dramatically muddled film follows a series of characters as they experience sexual and spiritual crises on the eve of a solar eclipse. Married businessman Brian (John Gilbert) pays Asian hustler Henry (Von Flores) for sex, then returns home to resume an affair with his Quebecois housekeeper, Sylvie (Pascale Montpetit). Later, Sylvie seduces Gabriel (Manuel Aranguiz), a Central American refugee, at their Second Language school. Gabriel then keeps a rendezvous with Sarah (Maria Del Mar), the Venezuelan wife of his immigration lawyer, Norman (Greg Ellwand). Sarah and Norman reaffirm their mutual commitment, but then Norman picks up student filmmaker Angelo (Matthew Ferguson) and has sex with him in a hotel room. Angelo then has a brief encounter with Michael (Earl Pastko), an artist, who later visits his best friend, Jim (Daniel MacIvor), an actor. Finally, Jim is accosted by wild bar girl Carlotta (Kirsten Johnson) in a gay disco, and she bullies him into having sex with her. The next morning, Carlotta wakes up in Henry's bed. As darkness descends upon the city, all the film's characters view the eclipse in isolation, reflecting on the connections they've made. First time director Jeremy Podeswa's film has its moments, but next to Max Ophuls' magnificent LA RONDE, it's pretty shallow stuff. The story's structure gives the many sketchily-drawn characters only a few minutes to convince the audience they're worth caring about, a situation exacerbated by the often amateurish acting. Even so, the sexually-charged circle of desire is voyeuristically compelling, the visual device of putting each sequence in a difference monochrome color — yellow ochre, icy blue, etc. — is intriguing (even if it ultimately means nothing) and Miroslaw Baszak's cinematography is exquisite.