Circle of Love (La Ronde)

Circle of Love (original title La Ronde) is a 1964 French-Italian film directed by Roger Vadim. Adapted from Arthur Schnitzler's 1897 play Reigen, it combines comedy, drama and romance, runs about 110 minutes and was shot in French. In West Germany it opened as Der Reigen on 16 October 1964.

Jean Anouilh wrote the screenplay and moved the action from Vienna to Paris in the Belle Époque. The story is a chain of love affairs: in each couple one partner turns to a new lover, so the turning wheel of desire passes through every layer of society, the fringes included. The circle closes by returning to the character who opened it, now paired with someone different. The cast includes Jean-Claude Brialy, Jane Fonda, Anna Karina, Maurice Ronet, Marie Dubois, Jean Sorel and Catherine Spaak, along with Claude Giraud, Alice Cocéa, Francine Bergé, Dani, Bernard Murat and Bernard Noël.

On release the film caused a minor controversy: a nude scene played by Jane Fonda was described as the first by a major American actress in a foreign film.