1981

Quartet

A quartet of best actors (Isabelle Adjani, Maggie Smith, Alan Bates, Anthony Higgins) plays under James Ivory directing a story from Jean Rhys novel about love and passion, faithfulness and treason.

Paris, 1920-s. Stephan Zelli (Anthony Higgins), an art-dealer, was suddenly arrested. His young wife Marya (Isabelle Ajani) has no money to live, so she received an offer from middle-aged English couple, the Heidlers, to live with them. Time passed and Marya found herself involved in relationship with H.J. Heidler (Alan Bates). While her husband impatiently waiting for her visits in prison, she more and more falling in love with Heidler, who has the reputation of a dishonest man, and whose wife (Maggie Smith) tolerates all husband's love affairs and waits him to come back to her. And Heidler does do when Marya annoys him.

When Stephan came back from the prison, he had to leave Paris in four days. He has no money to take his wife with him, moreover, he can't do it, because he learns Marya doesn't love him anymore. He is "used to living in a decent way", so for this man, in the situation of urgent escape, forgiveness is impossible. For Marya a new life with him is impossible too, because she desperately loves another man. Stephan leaves Paris with the woman next door, who is not so silly to miss a chance to get a good man.

This is one of the best of Anthony Higgins' films. His acting is exciting. Without a doubt, this work deserves to be in your collection. Be ready: 1/3 of dialogs are in French, so you can one more time enjoy Mr. Higgins' linguistic knowledge.

Soundtrack is at Soundtracks page.

Promo photos are at "Movie promotional photos".

P.S. For prison scenes Anthony had prison-crop. This haircut suits him more, than long hair.