Watch La Ronde

La Ronde, directed by Max Ophüls in 1950, is a groundbreaking film that explores love, passion, and desire through interconnected romantic encounters. Adapted from Arthur Schnitzler's 1897 play, La Ronde follows the lives of ten characters in Vienna as they engage in a series of sexual liaisons, spanning different social classes and societal norms. The film's unique structure, in which each character overlaps from one segment to the next, creates a mesmerizing and nuanced web of relationships that ultimately speaks to the chaos and beauty of love.

The film begins in a public park in Vienna, where a nightwatchman (Anton Walbrook) observes the romantic entanglements of a young woman (Simone Signoret) and a soldier (Serge Reggiani). Their brief affair sets the stage for a captivating and dizzying series of rendezvous that showcases both the film's technical brilliance and its emotional depth. Each segment introduces a new character and their romantic partner, who subsequently appears in the following scene with a new lover.

As the film unfolds, we witness a range of love stories, from the passion-filled affair between a countess (Danielle Darrieux) and a poet (Jean-Louis Barrault) to the marital woes of a husband (Fernand Gravey) and wife (Simone Simon). The relationships are presented with Ophüls' signature fluid camera movements and intricate compositions, creating a palpable sense of intimacy for the audience. The film's use of crisscrossing paths and circular movements speaks to the cyclical nature of love and its many complications.

Aside from its technical achievements, La Ronde is notable for its bold and often risqué exploration of love and sex. The film was controversial upon its release, as it challenged many societal conventions of the time, including sexual morality and class divisions. The relationships are presented candidly and without judgment, allowing for a nuanced and complex portrayal of human desire. In one of the most memorable scenes, a young student (Daniel Gélin) seduces a married woman (Odette Joyeux) with his charm and humor, only to realize that he is in love with her. The scene is both comic and tragic, underscoring the film's exploration of the joys and pains of love.

The performances in La Ronde are uniformly excellent, with each actor bringing depth and nuance to their respective roles. Anton Walbrook is particularly impressive as the film's narrator, providing a playful and slightly mischievous commentary on the characters' actions. Simone Signoret gives a powerful and nuanced performance as the film's most tragic character, a young woman seduced by a soldier who ultimately abandons her. Her performance is indicative of the film's commitment to portraying the complexity and emotional weight of love.

La Ronde's impact on cinema and popular culture cannot be overstated. Its use of interconnected storytelling has influenced countless films, from Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia to Robert Altman's Short Cuts. Its frank portrayal of sexual desire and its challenges helped pave the way for more open discussions about intimacy in cinema. In many ways, La Ronde is a time capsule of a particular moment in history, but its exploration of love and desire remains as relatable and relevant as ever.

Overall, La Ronde is a masterful and groundbreaking film that should be seen by anyone with an interest in cinema, romance, or the complexities of human desire. Its technical achievements are matched by its emotional depth, creating a captivating and unforgettable viewing experience. Ophüls' film is a true masterwork of European cinema, and a testament to the power of love and its many complexities.

La Ronde is a 1950 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 72.