In 1871 a 16 year old French poet, Arthur Rimbaud send a
letter to Paul Verlaine with aims that he would help him publishing his poems
book. Verlaine was very excited to invite Rimbaud to come to Paris after done reading
his two poems. He also allowed Rimbaud to stay in his father in law’s house
with him and his pregnant young wife.
Rimbaud was a rude, annoying, and obscene kid. So no one at
that house likes him very much. Mathilda, Verlaine’s wife warning Verlaine to
not easily distracted by this boy. She afraid that Rimbaud will become a dynamite
someday and triggering the devastated of her family. Particularly because
Verlaine drunk habit after he lost his job. Mathilda anticipation was right. Eventually
Rimbaud and Verlaine relationship rose to a very intimate, even so close as a
romantic relationship.
Verlaine had a vision about Rimbaud to become his soul mate.
He can clearly see that this kid was different from the other kid, even to his
18 year old wife. And so did Rimbaud attract to Verlaine as well. He thought
that he can fit one another to create a masterpiece of poems. Rimbaud seduces
Verlaine through his intelligence, genius, and spontaneous side that he can’t
get from his wife. When Matilda soon realized about this homosexuality relationship,
she threaten Verlaine with asking a divorce. Alas he can’t leave Rimbaud and
choose to divorce with Matilda.
Although the movie hasn't clearly depicted of Rimbaud poems itself,
but overall the story is good. I found that the relationship between Rimbaud
and Verlaine, though tragic was also very natural. They respected each other,
and understanding about their hunger to the honest, vulgar, and obscene poems that
no one would dare to write it yet at that time.
Besides that, the young Leonardo DiCaprio act was so
outstanding. You might often see his roles as a playboy, a maniac, a smart guy
or even a smart ass person. But in this movie is different. You are pleased to
see his naked and making love with an older guy. What I presumed will mark the
Total Eclipse as an important movie to watch. Otherwise of course to fulfill
our curiosity about the life of the eminent prefigured surrealism poems, Arthur
Rimbaud.
PS: My favorites quotes from this film is..
“Love...no such thing.
PS: My favorites quotes from this film is..
“Love...no such thing.
Whatever it is that binds families and married couples together, that's not love. That's stupidity or selfishness or fear. Love doesn't exist.
Self interest exists, attachment based on personal gain exists, complacency exists. But not love. Love has to be reinvented, that’s certain.”
