L'Eclisse (1962)
Michelangelo Antonioni's austere masterpiece of modern love, alienation, and the silence between two people who cannot quite connect.
L'Eclisse - Movie Information
- Original Title: L'eclisse
- Release Year: 1962
- Directed by: Michelangelo Antonioni
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 2h 6m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: English, Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 13, 1962 (Italy), December 20, 1962 (United States - NR), January 17, 1963 (United Kingdom), October 19, 1962 (Germany - 16), August 25, 1962 (France - TP), May 24, 1963 (Mexico - A), January 28, 1963 (Spain)
- Alternative Titles: L'eclipsi (ES), 情隔万重山 (CN), Στην έκσταση του πάθους (GR), The Eclipse (US), Sonnenfinsternis (DE), Затмение (SU), Auringonpimennys (FI), Taiyô wa Hitoribocchi (JP)
- Production Companies: Cineriz, Interopa Film, Paris-Film Production
- Production Countries: France, Italy
L'Eclisse - Plot
Vittoria is a beautiful literary translator living in Rome. After splitting from her writer boyfriend, Riccardo, Vittoria meets Piero, a lively stockbroker, on the hectic floor of the Roman stock exchange. Though Vittoria and Piero begin a relationship, it is not one without difficulties, and their commitment to one another is tested during an eclipse.
L'Eclisse - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a sense of Antonioni's mesmerizing visual world.
… the ache and ecstasy of love…
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L'Eclisse - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Michelangelo Antonioni
Main Cast
- Alain Delon
- Monica Vitti
- Francisco Rabal
- Lilla Brignone
- Rossana Rory
- Mirella Ricciardi
- Louis Seigner
- Cyrus Elias
- Alba Maiolini
- Maria Tedeschi
Writers
- Tonino Guerra
- Michelangelo Antonioni
Producers
- Raymond Hakim
- Robert Hakim
L'Eclisse - FAQs
What is the famous ending of L'Eclisse?
The film's final seven-minute sequence is one of cinema's most celebrated endings. Vittoria and Piero agree to meet but never show up. Antonioni instead films the empty streets and familiar locations, suggesting that their relationship — and perhaps human connection itself — has quietly dissolved into the modern urban landscape.
What is L'Eclisse about?
L'Eclisse follows Vittoria, a Roman literary translator who leaves her writer boyfriend and falls into a tentative romance with Piero, a brash young stockbroker. Antonioni uses their fragile relationship to explore themes of emotional alienation, capitalist anxiety, and the difficulty of genuine human connection in modern life.
Who are the main actors in L'Eclisse?
Monica Vitti and Alain Delon lead the cast as Vittoria and Piero. Francisco Rabal plays Riccardo, Vittoria's ex-boyfriend. The supporting cast includes Lilla Brignone, Rossana Rory, Mirella Ricciardi, and Louis Seigner, among others.
Is L'Eclisse part of a trilogy?
Yes. L'Eclisse is the third film in Antonioni's celebrated “Alienation Trilogy,” following L'Avventura (1960) and La Notte (1961). All three films star Monica Vitti and share a preoccupation with emotional estrangement, modern ennui, and the breakdown of romantic relationships in contemporary Italy.
Where can you stream L'Eclisse?
You can stream L'Eclisse on the Criterion Channel. It's also available to buy or rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home, so there are plenty of ways to catch this Italian masterpiece from the comfort of your home.
What does the eclipse symbolize in L'Eclisse?
The eclipse functions as a central metaphor for emotional and relational obscurity — moments when two people briefly align before drifting apart. Antonioni uses it to suggest that love, like a solar eclipse, is fleeting, incomplete, and ultimately leaves the world unchanged and perhaps a little darker than before.
When was L'Eclisse released?
L'Eclisse premiered in Italy on April 13, 1962, and reached US audiences on December 20, 1962. It also opened in France on August 25, 1962, the UK on January 17, 1963, and Germany on October 19, 1962, making its international rollout span nearly a full year.
Did L'Eclisse win any awards?
L'Eclisse won the Special Jury Prize at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival, a major recognition of Antonioni's artistic achievement. The film is now widely regarded as one of the greatest European films ever made and consistently appears on critics' all-time best lists, including the Sight & Sound poll.
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