About La Ronde

La Ronde is a circular tale, tracing a chain of love affairs between 10 distinct characters originating in Vienna. Directed by Max Ophuls, it was released in France in 1950. The film revolves around the theme of fleeting relationships and the insecurities involved. The narrator guides the audience through the interconnected stories, delivering insights into each character's perspective.

Making / Production

The film is based on the 1897 play 'Reigen' by Arthur Schnitzler. Max Ophuls translated this theatre-piece to screen, blending the right mix of humor, empathy, and irony, against the rich Viennese backdrop. La Ronde's direction and production are highly regarded for their fluid motion and ornate camera work.

Actors

• Anton Walbrook as The Raconteur: He efficiently governed the film as the sympathetic narrator and impromptu change maker.
• Serge Reggiani as Franz the Soldier: His character portrays naive vulnerability that succumbs to fleeting passions.
• Simone Signoret as Leocadie the Prostitute: Her character displays a hard exterior that hides a soft and vulnerable interior. Signoret skillfully pulled off the dichotomy.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was made using an enigmatic carousel metaphor, and the unconventional filmmaking strategy was a huge risk during the period.
• The idea of interconnected love stories through a soldier-prostitute-higher-class woman-cycle was a unique storytelling approach for the time.
• The script had to be rewritten several times due to objections from the French government's film rating board.

Awards

La Ronde won the Best Screenplay award at the 1951 Venice Film Festival.

Quotes

• "The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd."
• "Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine."
• "The road is my life - the one I chose."

Music, Soundtrack

• The score by Oscar Straus elegantly harmonizes with the narrative, enhancing the carousel symbolism of the film.
• "La Ronde de l'Amour" (The Round of Love) is one of the most memorable tracks of the movie, neatly tying the events together.