Playwright Conor McPherson (“The Seafarer”) makes an auspicious filmmaking debut with “The Eclipse,” which combines romance and the supernatural in ways that should not be confused with the upcoming “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”
McPherson’s fellow Irishman, the brilliant character actor Ciaran Hinds (“There Will Be Blood”), takes center stage as Michael, a father of two teenagers who is literally haunted by the recent death of his wife.
Michael, who writes in his spare time, is a volunteer for an international literary festival in his hometown, the incredibly picturesque Irish seaside village of Cobh.
He is assigned to drive Lena (Danish actress Iben Hjejle of “High Fidelity”), a writer of ghost stories. Michael grows close to Lena after confiding in her about the unnerving apparitions he’s been enduring.
Complicating the situation is Nicholas (a funny Aidan Quinn), a loutish and married American writer who is attempting to rekindle an affair with Lena.
McPherson balances these disparate elements with great skill, never resorting to cheap scare tactics in what amounts to a sensitive character study.
“The Eclipse” is well worth seeing for its acting and its tempting cinematography. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to book a vacation in Cobh.