rating:
(out of
4 stars)Canada; 1994
Directed by Atom Egoyan; produced by Atom Egoyan, Camelia Frieberg, Robert Lantos; written by Atom Egoyan
Starring Bruce Greenwood, Elias Koteas, Mia Kirshner, Don McKellar, Sarah Polley, Victor Garber, Arsinée Khanjian
'Exotica' keeps its secrets hidden right until the very last moments and although the structure serves a purpose, it also is one the reasons it will keep an attention on itself. It is a film where every bit of new information makes the characters more real, mysteries in the beginning, human beings in the end. It's also a film that is set in a nightclub where strippers perform, where the issue is not sex and eroticism but loneliness and desparity. It's interesting all the way through, yet not all will be satisfied with the slowly build up conclusion.
We are introduced to lonely characters, the first being Thomas (Don McKeller), who owns an exotic animal store and smuggles on the side. Then there is Francis (Bruce Greenwood), a heartbroken man, visiting the nightclub Exotica almost every night. He shares private moments with Christina (Mia Kirshner), but we sense that his motives are not the same as most men in those clubs would have. When he goes he hires a babysitter (Sarah Polley), but he has no children. In the club we also meet Eric (Elias Koteas), the DJ who talks the show together, and Zoe (Arsinée Khanjian), the pregnant owner. There is not much joy in any of them.
Director Atom Egoyan slowly ties these characters together and, as said, every scene is a piece in a big puzzle and completely discovering that on your own would be best for this film. On the other hand, the characters seem to act weird creatures at first, giving the film a surreal feeling. It may not be as much as in 'Mulholland Dr.', but it will probably scare away some viewers. That would be a shame since 'Exotica' is a terrific film. I am not sure what to think of the ending, I guess the conlcusion is kind of suspected, but along the way there are many surprises. The intriguing performances and mysterious score (composed by Mychael Danna) add up that feeling.