La Ronde, also known as "The Roundabout," is a 1950s French film based on the 1897 play of the same name by Arthur Schnitzler. Directed by Max Ophüls, it takes place in Vienna, Austria, around 1900 and follows a series of sexual encounters between different characters.
The film is narrated by an all-knowing character referred to as "The Raconteur," who guides the audience through the various liaisons. It begins with a soldier named Franz (played by Anton Walbrook) who meets a young prostitute named Leocadia (Simone Signoret) in a park. They have a brief encounter but are interrupted by the arrival of a prudish gentleman, who criticizes their behavior.
From there, the film follows a chain of affairs, as each character involved in one scene moves on to the next. Franz goes on to have an affair with a young, naive woman named Marie (Simone Simon), who becomes a chambermaid in a wealthy household. She then has an affair with the young master of the house, also named Franz (Daniel Gélin), who goes on to seduce a married woman (Danielle Darrieux). The woman's husband (Fernand Gravey) then has an affair with a young society girl (Odette Joyeux), and so on.
The film explores themes of desire, temptation, social class, and the timeless nature of sexual attraction. Each scene is shot in a single take, with the camera constantly in motion, capturing the swooning, dreamlike quality of the characters' experiences.
La Ronde was considered scandalous at the time of its release, as it openly depicted sexual relationships between characters of different social classes. However, it was also praised for its innovative storytelling techniques and visual style. It has since become a classic of French cinema, influencing countless films and filmmakers.
