Chain of Desire

Max Ophuls gave us one of the great films of all time, La Ronde. A stylish seduction about the art and enterprise of seduction with an extraordinary cast. Filmmaker Temistocles Lopez marvellously modernizes what was a cautionay tale about syflis, setting it in a sexually charged Manhattan at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Again the storytelling is that of the portmanteau or multi-plot, multi-character as one character from each sexual coupling, couples with another, hence the chain of the title or "round" as in the Ophuls film taking us back to the first character. Though low budget and less elegant than the original, Lopez's actors rise magnificently to the occassion. To list these names, hardly an "A" list in the conventional sense, but there is nothing conventional about this movie, is to provide us not with a roster of famous movie stars, but a lineup of highly accomplished and versatile actors from a diverse film background in several countries. Linda Fiorentino, Malcolm McDowell (UK), Assumpta Serna (Spain), Seymour Cassel (the Bronx), Grace Zabriskie (New Orleans), Patrick Bauchau (France), Elias Kotais (Canada), Tom Guinee, Dewey Weber, etc. provide a rich, sexy and fascinating work force to weave us irrevocably into this spellbinding tale of modern urban seductions. Not to be missed!

A friend recently gave me a copy of this very beautiful, funny, moving and sophisticated movie. One of the most poignant and intelligent depictions of sexuality I've ever seen. Every single actor playing one of the 14 main characters in the interlinked stories makes an impression. As does the moody photography capturing "La Dolce Vita" of 1980's Manhattan. This is a very special cinematic experience. Not flawless in its overall ambition, but still fascinating as a thought-provoking and panoramic chronicle of urban life at the end of the millennium.

Chain of Desire captures New York City and modern urban America in a powerfully truthful way, years before others portrayed sex in the big apple. It is not so much about sensual desire but the hopes and dreams of each character and how only other people can help to forward these dreams. Meanwhile as characters pursue their dreams the strength of sexuality, sex, perhaps a dark desire or perhaps a gift from heaven descends on the characters caught in a more dangerous time. Today desire is considered wrong.

The film takes you through human drama with reflections of greek comedy and tragedy that touches intense feelings and untamed moments. Linda Fiorentino, now famous but then just becoming known, gives a clear performance magically transforming her character above a torch song singer.

Eyes Wide Shut was also drawn from the same European theater roots as Chain of Desire, but Temi Lopez shows us a realist possible life whereas Kubrick makes a film more unbelievable than 2001. Stylish, seductive, vibrant, provocative, intelligent describe the film.

Great dramatic little movie. I didn't know it was that difficult to find CHAIN OF DESIRE until I read about it here. I watched it about 3 years ago. When it aired on late night, it was labelled as an erotic thriller but turned out to be as a great drama about urban couples. Malcom Mc Dowall delivers a fine performance, I couldn't believe that Alex from A Clockwork Orange was in this movie. Linda Fiorentino is as sexy and beautiful as always, and her acting is convincing.

Highly recommended, try to search for it, and buy it if you can. 7/10.

I was unable to find this film at any of my local video stores and had to order it offline. I was shocked and confused when I first saw it because it seemed like there was no tangible plot and was purely for the sake of eroticism. A few months later my friend saw it on my shelf and was intrigued by the title so I told her to pop it in. This time around I paid close attention to the details of the story and I finally understood the delicate web that director, Lopez was creating. I was amazed at how much of the story had been lost on me the first time around and I was even more amazed at the lack of public attention this movie received. It's languid, sultry, plot, weaves a candid, sly tale of adult life during the 90's, subtly juxtaposing sexual innocence and promiscuity into a wonderful masterpiece that serves as an excellent social commentary of the time. Artfully, shot and produced, this movie is not for light viewing. It's an intense film that requires thought and analyzation.