An American and a woman in Rome each receive a telegram concerning the same mysterious assignment in Paris. No one turns up to the meeting and during their peregrinations through rural France, Ben and Léo uncover a dark conspiracy. Two stars of the 1970s – Maria Schneider (Last Tango in Paris, 1972; Profession: Reporter, 1975) and Joe Dallesandro (Trash, 1970; Blood for Dracula, 1974) – meet in a labyrinth of betrayal and parallel realities. During the surreal intermezzos, Rivette explores the characters’ paranoia.
During these scenes, Léo is played by Hermine Karagheuz instead of Schneider who – after days of tumultuous shooting – suddenly left the set. After the chaotic shoot, Rivette had a nervous breakdown and the film couldn’t be seen in his home country until 1983. Yet there is beauty to Merry-Go-Round’s madness, particularly during the climax in the dunes, one of Rivette’s finest finales.
Film details
- Country of production
- France
- Year
- 1981
- Festival edition
- IFFR 1981
- Length
- 153"
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
