L’Eclisse

L’Eclisse

Year: 1962

Runtime: 126 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

RomanceDramaHumanity and the world around usMoving relationship storiesSurreal and thought-provoking visions of life and death

Set against Rome’s bustle, the film follows Vittoria, a literary translator, as she copes with the end of her relationship with writer Riccardo. She meets Piero, a stockbroker, on the hectic trading floor, and their romance develops amid emotional strain. An eclipse tests their commitment, exposing the ache and yearning beneath their connection.

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Timeline & Setting – L’Eclisse (1962)

Explore the full timeline and setting of L’Eclisse (1962). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1961

The events unfold in Rome during 1961, beginning with a Monday morning in July. The timeline extends into September of the same year, culminating with notable events on Sunday, 10 September 1961. The period captures a postwar Italian city in transition, balancing modern ambitions with intimate, unfolding personal conflicts.

Location

EUR district of Rome, Rome Stock Exchange, Verona, construction site near Vittoria's apartment

The story is largely set in Rome's EUR district, a planned modernist area known for its wide avenues and glass-fronted buildings. Several scenes unfold around the Rome Stock Exchange, underscoring the era's financial hub. The narrative also takes the characters to Verona on a day trip and to a lakeside area near a construction site adjacent to Vittoria's apartment, providing varied urban spaces that reflect the mood of the story.

🏙️ Urban Rome 💹 Stock Market 🛠️ Construction 🐕 Dog

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:27

Main Characters – L’Eclisse (1962)

Meet the key characters of L’Eclisse (1962), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Vittoria (Monica Vitti)

A young literary translator who ends her relationship with Riccardo and wanders through Rome, seeking meaning in a fast-changing urban landscape. She is emotionally distant and struggles to express what she feels about love, commitment, and marriage. Her interactions with Piero reveal a craving for connection amid modern city life and its pressures.

💬 Communication 🧭 Identity 🏙️ Urban

Riccardo (Francisco Rabal)

Vittoria's former lover who tries to persuade her to stay, embodying a persistence that conflicts with her reluctance. He represents a more traditional, passionate impulse within the relationship, contrasting with Vittoria's evasiveness and need for independence.

💔 Breakup 🗣️ Conversation 💭 Memory

Piero (Alain Delon)

A young stockbroker who overhears an insider tip and enters Vittoria's life with ambitions, charm, and a willingness to pursue what he wants. His affection for Vittoria collides with the reality of her emotional distance, and his world of wealth and status becomes a test of genuine connection.

💼 Business 💘 Desire 🏎️ Luxury

Anita (Rossana Rory)

Vittoria's neighbor who discusses the breakup and later joins Vittoria and Marta on a Verona trip. She embodies everyday social circles and provides a conversational foil to Vittoria's inner turmoil.

👭 Friendship 🏙️ Urban 🎭 Drama

Marta (Mirella Ricciardi)

A neighbor described as a white colonialist from Kenya who harbors racist views, including demeaning references to natives. She orchestrates social gatherings and illustrates the era's prejudices, highlighted by the Africa dance episode and the dog Zeus's escape.

🤔 Prejudice 🧭 Cultural 💬 Conversation

Vittoria's Mother (Lilla Brignone)

Vittoria's mother, deeply engaged with the stock market and profits, often preoccupied with wealth to the detriment of personal relationships. Her fixation on earnings underscores the film's critique of money's influence on family and priorities.

💰 Wealth 👵 Family 🧭 Generational

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:27

Major Themes – L’Eclisse (1962)

Explore the central themes of L’Eclisse (1962), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌆 Urban Alienation

The modern city serves as a mirror for emotional distance. Vittoria drifts through deserted streets after leaving Riccardo, and the sleek, impersonal rhythms of commerce seep into intimate life. The urban environment emphasizes how connection can feel fragile amid glass towers, markets, and constant movement.

💔 Love and Communication

Vittoria's difficulty in articulating her feelings drives the relational tension with Riccardo and later with Piero. Misunderstandings and evasions prevent a clear, lasting commitment. The film leaves the lovers’ fate unresolved, showcasing how words and promises can fail in the face of desire and fear.

💷 Wealth and Power

Money and status shape interactions as much as attraction. The stock market, insider trading, and the mother's fluctuating fortune anchor the social dynamics around Vittoria and Piero. The pursuit of wealth contrasts with intimate longing, revealing the fragility of affection in a money-driven world.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:27

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L’Eclisse Summary

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L’Eclisse (1962) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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L’Eclisse (1962) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow