Exotica (1994)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Writer:

Atom Egoyan (writer)

Release Date:

3 March 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

In a world of temptation, obsession is the deadliest desire.

Plot:

The 'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs...

Plot Keywords:

Egg | Nightclub | Pet Shop | Airport | Actress Breaking Typecast

Awards:

13 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

David Hemblen	...	Customs inspector
Mia Kirshner	...	Christina
Calvin Green	...	Customs officer
Elias Koteas	...	Eric
Bruce Greenwood	...	Francis Brown
Peter Krantz	...	Man in taxi
Don McKellar	...	Thomas Pinto
Arsinée Khanjian	...	Zoe
Sarah Polley	...	Tracey Brown
Victor Garber	...	Harold Brown
Damon D'Oliveira	...	Man at opera
Jack Blum	...	Scalper
Billy Merasty	...	Man at opera
Ken McDougall	...	Doorman

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Iceland:12 | Australia:R | South Korea:18 | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alliance Entertainment

Trivia:

The director's wife, Arsinée Khanjian, was seven months pregnant when her parts in the movie were filmed.

Quotes:

Eric: Do it for me, baby! Oh! My god, that's incredible, incredible! Let me ask you something, gentlemen: What is it that gives a schoolgirl her special innocence? Her sweet fragrance... Fresh flowers, light as a spring rain... Oh, my god, my god... Or is it her firm...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bollywood/Hollywood (2002)

Soundtrack:

Fresh Has Jus B'Gun Remix

Beautiful, haunting, poetic and truthful.

Just seen this for the second time. First time I saw it (about a year ago), I wasn't really sure what to make of it, but there were scenes from it (when Elias Koteas reveals why his connection to the disturbed and grieving father and the scene with the father and his daughter's babysitter at the end) that have always stuck in my mind.

A very haunting and beautiful movie (even though it gives a very unpleasant view of life), with a haunting snake charm style score and starring the brilliant Elias Koteas (from "Crash") and the lovely Mia Kirshner (from early first season "24" and "The Crow: City Of Angels"). Victor Garber (Sidney's dad in "Alias") also has a couple of scenes. Not to many tastes but very rewarding if you can appreciate it (although it's sense of detachment probably puts off a lot of people).

It seems to me to explore the theme of people trying to connect, in a very insular and ultimately unfulfilling way (the young gay man who goes to the ballet every night and gives away his "extra ticket" for companionship or the grieving father who pays a young girl to "babysit" his empty house so that he can have the illusion his daughter is still around for example), and also the theme of loss (variously of loved ones, innocence, youth, opportunity etc). The Exotica strip club seems such hollow place but at the same time it seems almost understandable that it would draw hapless souls night after night with nowhere else to go. Some of the dialogue seems poetic, cynical and truthful all at the same time. A film that you really need to watch to the end before you really feel you understand it's puzzle (and even then there seems to be something just out of grasp this viewing). A moving portrait of life that will linger in your mind afterwards.