Review of L'Eclisse (1962) by Colm M — 27 Mar 2012
Antonioni again tackles superficial love among the Italian well off. Like L' Aventura its a slow and deliberate character study but more importantly a look at love in the 'modern' world. The director seems to see love (this kind of love anyway) as a kind of death.
Doomed before it begins. Its as if Vitti's character can only understand love in this way and she mourns the loss as she looks into her lovers eyes even as they just begin their brief affair. The fact that they talk of love and marraige from the start gives a sense of desperation to the whole experience.
Its a cold view full of nihilism and this is accentuated by the sharp lines of the modern furniture and architecture throughout the movie. The only respite we get from this is in the luxurious surroundings of her lovers classically furnished family home where the only act of love takes place.
A longing for an earlier time maybe? Vitti of course is the muse that pulls the whole thing off. As I said of her in L'Aventura, you could watch her for two hours with the sound turned off. "I wish I did not love you or I wish I could love you more".
Indeed Monica. This kind of woman will always devour this kind of man. Even as he enters her web knowing full well his fate. You feel the loss of her personally when she is no longer present in the ending.
You wait to see her just one more time.....but she is gone.
This review of L'Eclisse (1962) was written by Colm M on 27 Mar 2012.
L'Eclisse has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
