Overview
A haunting exploration of obsession and desire unfolds on a luxurious cruise.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- darkly comic
- disturbing
- provocative
- late night cinephile viewing
- psychological thriller double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an uneven but compellingly provocative erotic drama whose dark humor, psychological intensity, and audacious style divided opinion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Oscar recounts his relationship with Mimi to Nigel during repeated visits to his cabin aboard the ship.
Oscar describes becoming enslaved body and soul by Mimi's love as their affair develops.
The film combines erotic game-playing and disturbing relationship dynamics with an outre, wickedly entertaining comic register.
Nigel observes the couple aboard a sailing trip while Oscar repeatedly draws him into an intimate account of their past.
Films like Bitter Moon, and why
The Piano Teacher
erotic obsession, psychological manipulation, and darkly comic relationship dynamics
Eyes Wide Shut
marital crisis, sexual power games, and psychologically disturbing erotic drama
The Night Porter
voyeurism, erotic danger, and morally corrosive romantic entanglements
Possession
claustrophobic relationship drama shaped by erotic obsession and black humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Release Date
- 1992-09-02
- Runtime
- 139 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (883)
Cast
- Peter Coyote
- Emmanuelle Seigner
- Hugh Grant
- Kristin Scott Thomas
- Victor Banerjee
- Sophie Patel
- Patrick Albenque
- Smilja Mihailovitch
- Leo Eckmann
- Luca Vellani
Common questions
- What is Bitter Moon about?
- A married traveler is drawn into a seductive, cruel account of erotic obsession that destabilizes his own marriage.
- What is Bitter Moon like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bitter Moon as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Bitter Moon violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bitter Moon as mild.
- What did critics think of Bitter Moon?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an uneven but compellingly provocative erotic drama whose dark humor, psychological intensity, and audacious style divided opinion.
- Which films are like Bitter Moon?
- Films with a similar feel include The Piano Teacher, Eyes Wide Shut, The Night Porter, and Possession.
- How long is Bitter Moon?
- Bitter Moon runs 139 minutes.
