Quartet

After her dubious husband Stefan (Anthony Higgins) is imprisoned, a vulnerable yet complex Marya seeks refuge with an English art patron (Alan Bates) and his painter wife (Maggie Smith), both of whom are manipulative and lecherous. This twisted relationship unfolds against the backdrop of a meticulously recreated 1920s Paris, capturing the essence of the Golden Age. Adapted from Jean Rhys's 1928 autobiographical novel, this film marks a significant achievement for Merchant Ivory. Isabelle Adjani delivers one of her most remarkable performances as Marya, a West Indian woman navigating the intricate dynamics with her hosts. The trio's interactions are framed by the vibrant café culture and extravagant nightlife of Hemingway's "moveable feast," where glamour and intellectualism mask underlying darkness.