Romance Romance (1992)

In the first act, "The Little Comedy", based on a short story by Arthur Schnitzler, set in late 19th-century Vienna, Leon and Celeste are both dissatisfied with their current lifestyles. Leon, a wealthy bachelor, has grown tired of superficial affairs, while Celeste, a courtesan, is weary of the shallow relationships she has with her high-society lovers. Seeking a change, they each decide to adopt new identities-Leon as a struggling poet and Celeste as a working-class woman. The two meet during their walks through the city and fall for each other, unaware of the other's true background. Their newfound romance is put to the test during a weekend in the countryside, far from the comforts they're used to, where bad food, boredom, and swarming insects threaten their fragile connection. Whether their love can survive without their usual glamorous facades remains uncertain. The second act, "Summer Share", based on Jules Renard's 1898 play Le pain de ménage and updated to the late 1980s, takes place in the Hamptons. Two married couples-Emily and Peter, and Jake and Sarah-are spending the summer in a rented beach house. Emily and Jake, both happily married, start off with harmless flirtation, but their bond slowly deepens, leading them to contemplate the possibility of an affair. As they wrestle with their growing attraction, they must face the emotional consequences of straying from their spouses. Both acts, connected by a shared song that resonates across time, explore the complexities of love, desire, and identity, highlighting the contrasts between different eras and social dynamics.