Total Eclipse

by Jason Ankeny Filmmaker Agnieszka Holland's 1995 retelling of the relationship between poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine earned a much-deserved critical thrashing, but its score remains a thing of beauty. Polish composer Jan A.P. Kaczmarek's international breakthrough, Total Eclipse communicates the passion and invention of Rimbaud's poetry with a grace the film utterly lacks, employing the Warsaw Symphony and a small string quartet to evoke both the epic sweep and profound intimacy of his work. It's music that's raw and alive yet stunning in its adherence to classical traditions, buoyed by Kaczmarek's lyrical melodies and nuanced arrangements.