Chain of Desire Movie Review

Remember Max Ophuls’ classic 1950 film La Ronde, based on Arthur Schnitzler's play? The one in which just about everyone in an all-star cast (Anton Walbrook, Serge Reggiani, Simone Simon, Simone Signoret, Daniel Gelin, Danielle Darrieux, Fernand Gravet, Odette Joyeux, Jean-Louis Barrault, Isa Miranda, Gerard Philipe) had affairs with each other? So did Roger Vadim, who remade it, not very well, in 1964. So did Temistocles Lopez, who remade it in 1993. The “advantage” this time is that the Production Code of 1934–69 need be considered no longer when making a movie about pointless sex. Alma D'Angeli (Linda Fiorentino) and Jesus (Elias Koteas) are the first sexual adventurers. There are 14 lust-driven Manhattanites in this movie. In place of the sophisticated, dry humor of Ophuls, we get Lopez’ message for the ‘90s, delivered in an understated way—but if you have a pulse, it will still hit you with a thud.

1993 107m/C Linda Fiorentino, Elias Koteas, Malcolm McDowell, Grace Zabriskie, Tim Guinee, Assumpta Serna, Patrick Bauchau, Seymour Cassel, Kevin Conroy, Angel Aviles, Holly Marie Combs, Jamie Harold, Dewey Weber, Suzanne Douglas; D: Temistocles Lopez; W: Temistocles Lopez; C: Nancy Schreiber; M: Nathan Birnbaum. Nominations: Independent Spirit Awards ‘94: Best Cinematography. VHS, LV