Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- passionate
- volatile
- decadent
- arthouse film night
- literary cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the biographical drama lukewarm and insufficiently focused on the poets' artistic achievements, though Leonardo DiCaprio's daring performance drew some praise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Verlaine and Rimbaud's volatile affair, betrayals, reconciliations, and violence dominate the narrative.
Rimbaud disrupts the insular society of French poets while Verlaine navigates its expectations.
Verlaine abandons his pregnant wife for his relationship with Rimbaud, making sexuality and social transgression central.
Absinthe, resentment, abuse, erotic obsession, and artistic turmoil create a lush but destructive tragic register.
Films like Total Eclipse, and why
Carrington
period biographical drama centered on an intense, destructive relationship between artists
Wilde
literary biographical drama exploring queer desire, artistic identity, and volatile intimacy
Maurice
stylized period drama about forbidden queer love, repression, and creative lives
Movie Details
- Director
- Agnieszka Holland
- Release Date
- 1995-11-03
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (569)
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- David Thewlis
- Romane Bohringer
- Dominique Blanc
- Nita Klein
- Félicie Pasotti
- James Thierrée
- Emmanuelle Oppo
- Christopher Hampton
- Denise Chalem
Common questions
- What is Total Eclipse about?
- A volatile affair between poets Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud turns literary rebellion into domestic violence, obsession, and ruin.
- What is Total Eclipse like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Total Eclipse as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Total Eclipse violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Total Eclipse as moderate.
- What did critics think of Total Eclipse?
- Critics broadly found the biographical drama lukewarm and insufficiently focused on the poets' artistic achievements, though Leonardo DiCaprio's daring performance drew some praise.
- Which films are like Total Eclipse?
- Films with a similar feel include Carrington, Wilde, and Maurice.
- How long is Total Eclipse?
- Total Eclipse runs 111 minutes.
