The Eclipse DVD

 

 

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Atmospheric Irish Drama Released on DVD

 

                Recent widower Michael Farr (Ciaran Hinds) has resigned himself to raising his 10 and 14 year-old kids alone. The grieving clan lives along Ireland’s seacoast in a verdant, fog-enshrouded town whose only claim to fame is hosting an annual literary festival.

A schoolteacher by profession, practical Michael put his dream of becoming a writer on hold in order to be able to provide for his family. However, he still harbors the hope of one day pursuing his true passion. Meanwhile, the only brushes he enjoys with the publishing industry is when he works as a volunteer at the aforementioned festival.

This summer, he’s been assigned to serve as a chauffeur for a best-selling author Lena Morelle (Iben Hjejle). Her specialty, the supernatural, dovetails conveniently with the fact that Michael’s been seeing ghosts ever since his wife’s passing. The plot gradually thickens as he develops a crush on Lena because she’s the first person to give credence to his claim of feeling the presence otherworldly apparitions.

However, although Lena lends a sympathetic ear, she’s doesn’t think of him romantically. For she already has plans to rendezvous with Nicholas Holden (Aidan Quinn), a colleague she slept with at this same gathering the previous year.

But she had been too passionate back then to have the patience to learn much about her lover like the fact that he was married. When the truth comes out, the miffed mistress ends torn about continuing their illicit liaison. As the days go by, the question becomes whether ardent admirer Michael might actually have a shot with this woman way above his station. So unfolds The Eclipse, an atmospheric adventure which proves to be as worthwhile for its breathtaking cinematography as for the intriguing love triangle it spins ever so deliberately, delectably and delightfully.

A literary lass gets more than she bargained for while looking for love on the Emerald Isle.

 

Excellent (3.5 stars)

Rated R for profanity and disturbing images.

Running time: 88 Minutes

Distributor: Magnolia Home Entertainment