Bitter Moon (1992)

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Gérard Brach (screenplay)
John Brownjohn (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

11 March 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

British couple Fiona and Nigel Dobson are sailing to Istanbul en route to India. They encounter a beautiful French woman...

Plot Keywords:

Wheelchair | Abuse | Sex | Bus | Accident

Cast

Hugh Grant	...	Nigel
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Fiona
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Mimi
Peter Coyote	...	Oscar
Victor Banerjee	...	Mr. Singh
Sophie Patel	...	Amrita Singh
Patrick Albenque	...	Steward
Smilja Mihailovitch	...	Bridge Player
Leo Eckmann	...	Bridge Player
Luca Vellani	...	Dado
Richard Dieux	...	Partygoer
Danny Wuyts	...	Bandleader (as Danny Garcy)
Daniel Dhubert	...	Bus Inspector
Nathalie Galán	...	Girl in Boutique (as Nathalie Galan)
Eric Gonzales	...	Cook
Jim Adhi Limas	...	Thai Maître D' (as Jim-Adhi Limas)
Boris Bergman	...	Oscar's Friend
Olivia Brunaux	...	Cindy
Heavon Grant	...	Basil
Charlene	...	Hooker
Geoffrey Carey	...	Neighbour with Dog
Robert Benmussa	...	Flight Dispatcher
Claire Lopez	...	Model
Shannon Finnegan	...	Housewife
Frédérique Lopez	...	Brunette (as Frederique Lopez)
Ysé Tran	...	Eurasian Girl (as Yse Marguerite Tran)
Claude Bonnet	...	Mayor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stockard Channing	...	Beverly (uncredited)

Directed by
Roman Polanski

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gérard Brach		screenplay (as Gerard Brach)
John Brownjohn		screenplay
Pascal Bruckner		novel "Lunes de Fiel"
Jeff Gross		script collaboration
Roman Polanski		screenplay

Produced by
Robert Benmussa	....	executive producer
Roman Polanski	....	producer
Alain Sarde	....	co-producer
Timothy Burrill	....	co-producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Vangelis

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hervé de Luze		(as Herve De Luze)

Production Design by
Willy Holt
Gérard Viard		(as Gerard Viard)

Costume Design by
Jackie Budin

Makeup Department
Loli Avellanas	....	hair stylist (as Lolita Avellanas)
Alain Bernard	....	hair stylist
Sophie Harvey	....	makeup artist
Didier Lavergne	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jean-Marc Abbou	....	unit manager
Jean-Jacques Damiani	....	production manager
Françoise Piraud	....	post-production manager
Daniel Szuster	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Bartonio	....	first assistant director
Emanuel Booz	....	second assistant director (as Emmanuel Booz)
Patrick Boshart	....	second assistant director
Michel Cheyko	....	first assistant director
Anne Trinquelle	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Benoît Clémenceau	....	production buyer (as Benoit Clemenceau)
Jean-Michel Ducourty	....	assistant art director
Maurice Guarguir	....	set painter
Marcel Laude	....	property master
André Loisif	....	construction manager (as Andre Loisif)
Jean-Claude Perchet	....	set dresser
Jacques Quinternet	....	production buyer
Philippe Turlure	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Jean-François Auger	....	post-synch mixer
Jean-Marie Blondel	....	boom operator
Daniel Brisseau	....	sound
Mimi Dashefski	....	dialogue editor
Roberto Garzelli	....	sound editor
Lizzie Gelber	....	adr editor (as Lizabeth Gelber)
Anne-Marie Leduc	....	dialogue editor
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	foley artist
Jacques Lévy	....	post-synchronization (as Jacques Levy)
Marion Lorthioir	....	post-synchronization
Mario Melchiorri	....	foley artist
Ray Merrin	....	sound mixer
Laurent Quaglio	....	sound editor
Bill Rowe	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Jean-François Cousson	....	special effects
Pierre Foury	....	special effects
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects
Benoît Lestang	....	special effects
Frederic Moreau	....	optical effects supervisor
Jean-Louis Trinquier	....	special effects
Paul Wilson	....	special effects

Stunts
Jean-Louis Airola	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Marie Benoît	....	electrician (as Jean-Marie Benoit)
Roberto de Franceschi	....	assistant camera (as Roberto De Franceschi)
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
Etienne George	....	still photographer
André Haidant	....	grip (as Andre Haidant)
Gérard Haidant	....	grip (as Gerard Haidant)
Jean Harnois	....	camera operator
François Lauliac	....	focus puller
Jean-Claude LeBras	....	gaffer (as Jean-Claude Lebras)
Valérie Le Gurun	....	electrician (as Valerie Le Gurun)
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
André Thiéry	....	key grip (as Andre Thiery)
Jean-Pierre Voisin	....	electrician

Casting Department
Alberte Garo	....	crowd casting
Françoise Menidrey	....	casting: France
Mary Selway	....	casting: UK
Bonnie Timmermann	....	casting: USA (as Bonnie Timmerman)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ann Dunsford	....	wardrobe master (as Anne Dunsford-Varenne)
Laurent Ferrie	....	tailor
Gerard Staub	....	dresser

Editorial Department
Nadia Ben Rachid	....	assistant editor
Caroline Coudin	....	assistant editor
Glenn Cunningham	....	associate editor
Yvan Lucas	....	color grader

Music Department
Philippe Colonna	....	music mixer
Philippe Colonna	....	music recordist
Frédéric Rousseau	....	music mixer
Frédéric Rousseau	....	music recordist
Vangelis	....	musician

Transportation Department
Gilles Saulnier	....	driver

Other crew
Sylvette Baudrot	....	continuity
Aude Boedec	....	production secretary
Jean-Pierre Bonnet	....	production accountant
Quinn Donoghue	....	unit publicist
Christophe Folcher	....	trainee
Laurence Granec	....	unit publicist
Philippe Guiraud	....	stand-in
Jean-Marc Homand	....	production accountant
Jennifer Patrick	....	dialogue coach
Fabien Pondevaux	....	trainee
Redha	....	choreographer
Alain Sarde	....	presenter
Natala Sevenants	....	stand-in
Brigitte Squara	....	trainee
Bruno Vignier	....	location manager
Jack Waltzer	....	drama coach
Peter Zewald	....	legal advisor

Production Companies

• Canal+ (with the participation of)
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Les Films Alain Sarde (with the participation of)
• R.P. Productions
• Timothy Burrill Productions

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Fine Line Features (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1992) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (Spain)

Other Companies

• Air France  thanks
• Audio 24/25  sound transfer
• Cerruti 1881  Peter Coyote's costumes
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  publicity
• Eclair  film lab
• Editions du Seuil  novel "Lunes de Fiel" published by
• Epsilon Laboratories  music recorded at
• Films Garantie Finance  completion bond
• Le Chartier Malatier  insurance
• Magic Camera Company, The  titles and opticals
• Microfilms  titles and opticals
• S.I.S.  post-synchronization
• Transpalux  lighting

Also Known As:

Lunes de fiel (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for the strong depiction of a perverse sexual relationship.

Runtime:

139 min | Argentina:119 min

Country:

France | UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Brazil:14 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Mexico:C | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Paris Studios Cinéma, Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

The movie is based upon Pascal Bruckner's 1981 novel "Lune de fiel" - a pun on "Lune de miel", the French word for "honeymoon". "Lune de fiel" literally means "poison moon".

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene when Mimi cuts her hair for the first time and bakes a Turkey for Oscar, he is wearing the same turtle necked blue sweater that was ripped off with a razor blade during a previous sex game.

Quotes:

Oscar: What happened to your dance classes?
Mimi: Dancing has to come from the heart.
Oscar: So?
Mimi: My heart is broken.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Taboos (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Faith

eerie life, arcane love

when i first saw this movie in 1992 i found it shocking by its erotic scenes and burn-out love story. i noticed it was a good movie, but that was the end of the story.

now i bought it in dvd and saw it for the 2nd time. it's a masterpiece.

everything blends perfectly in this film: 1990's paris, the colours of the film (etalonage), the excellent vangelis's music score, the evolution of a love story, the roles played by the 2 couples...

emmanuelle seigner is great playing the role of a nymph and a sorcerer, peter coyote is magnificent playing the part of a regular guy who gets insane, hugh grant becomes a perfect boring middle-class british bourgeois and kristin scott thomas her discreet wife looking for action.

one of the best amour-fou stories, along with louis malle's "damage". as rui wrote before, a must see.