La Ronde DVD

A film by Max Ophuls

Master of the traveling camera Max Ophuls combines his unique artistic talent for creating exceptional images with a superior cast of French talent in La Ronde. A titillating and playful comment on the cyclical nature of romantic love, Ophuls perfectly captures the opulence of 19th Century Vienna with his beautiful and expressive camera. A mysterious Master of Ceremonies acts as our guide through the romantic carousel of the narrative, which begins with a fleeting encounter between a lonely prostitute and a broke soldier in a hurry. As she insistently pursues him, his resolve swiftly crumbles, and the two share an intimate moment. From this tryst the soldier moves on to his next affair: this time with a coquettish maid who is not as innocent as she seems. But soon she too progresses through the romantic roundabout, moving on to a young gentleman unfamiliar with the ways of love...And so the lusty carousel turns and, as one scene ends, we waltz along as the characters change partners and dance again?and again, and again?through a program of chance meetings, secret trysts and hopeless courtships.