Review of L'Eclisse (1962) by Will D — 08 Sep 2009

I'd say that segments of it are very powerful but as a whole there is less to like and admire compared to some of Antonioni's other films. There are scenes that are overlong, and sequences that are unnecessarliy repeated (in particular the stock-market scenes) that make the viewing experience less enjoyable.

It's a very detached, observant film- it objectively looks at the ordinary lives of a handful of people without really being able to see what is going on inside their heads. The characters talk and move as though they are completely isolated from each other, and unable to make contact. It's quite disturbing to watch, because these characters feel far closer to 'real' than most. The film is more gripping when people are not talking, and lack of human connection is indeed what L'Eclisse seems to be about. The opening scene illustrates it, and the final 10 minutes or so perfectly illustrates a dead, empty world.