Undoubtedly some wags would suggest that a writers conference is an ideal place for a horror story, but “The Eclipse” isn’t really a horror story. Even if there are ghosts involved.
This sneaky little Irish film is set during a literary conference in the small coastal town of Cobh, a suitably scenic location for a movie. The main character is not a writer, but a widower with two children.
Michael (played by Ciaran Hinds) does dabble at writing, and he volunteers as a driver during the book fest. This year his charge is Lena Morelle (Iben Hjejle, from “High Fidelity”), an attractive author of ghostly tales.
But that’s not really where the supernatural part comes in: Michael is both mourning his late wife and expecting the death of his ailing father-in-law. He’s convinced that one or the other of them is causing unexplained poltergeist-y events around his house.
The funny, and rather appealing, thing about “The Eclipse” is that it’s really just a character study with a few otherworldly moments strewn about. We can understand these to be manifestations of Michael’s grief (although strange things do happen in Ireland).
Michael and Lena get along rather nicely, and the literary backdrop allows for some amusing fun poked at such events.
In particular, the conference brings in a third character, a very successful writer called Nicholas Holden, to stumble into the scene. He’s the juiciest figure in the scenario, an egotist and drinker who nurses a pitiful little crush on Lena.
This role gives Aidan Quinn one of the best parts he’s ever had. The actor is so often cast as sensitive types that the chance to cut loose with a preening, needy guy like Nicholas clearly has a liberating effect.
Director Conor McPherson wisely keeps everything low-key (although the couple of times he wants to make you jump, you’ll probably jump).
The chemistry between Ciaran Hinds (“There Will Be Blood” and TV’s “Rome”) and Iben Hjejle is fun to watch: he’s big and dark, she’s pale and slight, yet they seem like two intelligent people who might find common ground because of a chance meeting.
“The Eclipse” fumbles its ending with an unlikely new development, but otherwise works up a good deal of subtle appeal. Forget about the ghosts: This one’s finally about the living.
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