why exactly is this movie called total eclipse? is there some meaning that I'm missing?
So you love me huh?
Ain't that a kick
Now maybe I can finally get some sleep
I don't know the exact reason, but it must have something to do with how Arthur always wanted the sun. "On, on!"
shareHi
It is ten years since you raised the issue. Nobody responded with anything solid. Not sure this will be helpful, but here goes anyway. And be aware that only the film makers will know the truth - this arrow is a shot in the dark.
The total eclipse may refer to the twilight/darkness that descended on Verlaine when Rimbaud moved out of his life. Verlaine did not die well - drugs and alcohol finished him off in his mid-50s, even though he was by then being hailed as a major French poet. Rimbaud had already passed on.
It is possible (though not certain) the title Total Eclipse may cross-reference the bible story of Samson and Delilah. Not kidding.
Back we go to the year 1743. The German-English composer George Handel's oratorio Samson appeared in that year. The libretto (book) was by Mr Newburgh Hamilton (1691-1761)who borrowed heavily from the classic English poet John Milton(1608-1674)in his writing, and Milton in turn adapted the story of Samson and Delilah as outlined in the Old Testament Book of Judges.
One of the most popular songs in Handel's Samson was 'Total Eclipse', which referred to Samson's despair after he had been blinded by the Philistines. The words are as follows:
"Total eclipse, no sun, no moon amidst the blaze of noon,
Oh glorious light! No cheering ray to glad my eyes with welcome day!
Why thus (am I) deprived thy prime degree?
Sun, moon and stars are dark to me!"
The story is, of course, that Samson had betrayed his own people by carrying on with Delilah and she in turn betrayed him and caused him to be captured and blinded. That is, Samson's desires ended up in him having his lights put out...
The above outline works well as a kind of metaphor when applied to Verlaine and Rimbaud. Verlaine betrays his friends and family to go after Rimbaud(a handsome young man - internet photos are available). Rimbaud then discards Verlaine when he moves on for reasons of his own and leaves his friend in a kind of 'darkness' which impacted on the rest of his life.
Not sure if that is what the film's makers had in mind when they named it 'Total Eclipse' but it makes some sense to me.