THE ECLIPSE
Ireland 2009, 88 minutes. Colour.
Ciaran Hinds, Iben Hjejle, Aidan Quinn, Billy Roche, Jim Norton.
Directed by Conor Mc Pherson.
Conor Mc Pherson was a very successful playwright in his twenties and thirties, on the London and Broadway stages as well as in his native Ireland. In 1996 he wrote the screenplay for I Went Down. Since then he has written many plays and has directed Saltwater, The Actors and The Eclipse as well as writing the screenplays.
The film is an atmospheric one. It is set in the Irish southern city of Cobh. Audiences will appreciate the many glimpses of the city especially from the water. A literary convention is in progress. Iben Hjejle and Aidan Quinn portray novelists who come to the festival. Ciaran Hinds, recently a widower with two children, is a driver for the celebrities.
The film has dramatic clashes between the three central characters, Quinn being an alcoholic egotistic writer who wants to leave his wife and marry Iben Hjejle. Ciaran Hinds, however, brings a touch of the supernatural because in his dreams he has a sense of his father-in-law who is in a home. This reaches a climax when he has a frightening dream, is discovered by his daughter, and at the same time his father-in-law has slit his wrists. There is also an appearance towards the end by his dead wife.
The film relies on dialogue and interaction as well as the atmosphere of the literary convention, the ambitions and vanities of those involved, and the blending of this with discussions about ghosts and the elements of the ghost story – Irish style.
1. The title, Lena’s book, haunting, death and ghosts?
2. An Irish story – and the ways of Irish storytelling?
3. Cobh, the city, the views from the river, the shoreline and the beaches, the universities, homes? The musical score and the atmosphere of Ireland?
4. The introduction to the literary world, the festival, the dinner, Michael and his children at the dinner, going home, the arguments, the information about the dead wife, her cancer? The daughter and her concern? The boy and his wandering off, clashes with his father? Their going to school? Michael’s coping?
5. Michael and his sleep, his dreams, the sense of Malachy’s presence, in the house, phoning the home, visiting his father-in-law? The discussions about losing a wife, and the sadness of losing a child? Malachy and his distress, in the home? The reappearance in Michael’s dreams? The closet and the face? His daughter finding him? Michael and his anxiety? His father-in-law’s suicide, Michael discovering him, the effect? His going to Lena? The funeral, the ghosts, the discussions with his wife? His discussions about ghosts with Lena?
6. Nicholas Holden, the author, pompous, his being demanding, his anger at Malachy’s being delayed, their talk, the trip in the car, his drinking, meeting Lena, late for her recital, bumping the chair, going to the restaurant? Her leaving? His pursuit of her, the past affair? His wife? Accusing Michael of stalking? The depression, the collapse, in hospital? With Lena, the fight, his dominating Michael? His wife’s arrival, leaving with her?
7. Lena, late arrival at the festival, Malachy trying to meet her, failing? His driving her to the house, her settling in? Offering any contact and help? His finding her attractive, his imagination? Going to the functions, the dinner, Nicholas and his behaviour, Lena and her past, her books, her modesty, the relationship with Nicholas, wanting to break it? Her fans? The recital? The day out, the countryside, the sea, her enjoying it? Discovering Nicholas, taking him to hospital, waiting for him? His staying the night and her ousting him after the fight? Her leaving, the future? The influence of Michael?
8. The festival, the ridicule by the authors, the locals and their enjoyment, the functions, the readings, the glimpse to (**of? into?**) the literary world – by the writer-director who belongs to this world?
9. A human story, its pace, atmosphere, character development – and the exploration of the ghost and haunting theme?
