简介:Ithasbeensaidthatmostgreattwentiethcenturynovelsincludescenesinahotel,asymptomofthevastuprootingthathasoccurredinthelastcentury:JamesIvorybeginsQuartetwithamontageofthehotelsofMontparnasse,aquietpreludebeforeourintroductiontotheviolentlylostsoulswhoinhabitthem.Adaptedfromthe1928autobiographicalnovelbyJeanRhys,QuartetisthestoryofalovequadranglebetweenacomplicatedyoungWestIndianwomannamedMarya(playedbyIsabelleAdjani),herhusbandStefan(AnthonyHiggins),amanipulativeEnglishartpatronnamedHeidler(AlanBates),andhispainterwifeLois(MaggieSmith).ThefilmissetintheGoldenAgeofParis,Hemingway's"moveablefeast"ofcafecultureandextravagantnightlife,glitterandliterati:yetunderneathistheoutlineofsomethingsinisterbeneaththepolishedbrassesandbrasseries.WhenMarya'shusbandisputinaParisprisononchargesofsellingstolenartworks,sheisleftindigentandistakeninbyHeidlerandhiswife:thepredatoryEnglishman(whosecharacterRhysbasesonthenovelistFordMadoxFord)isquicktotakeadvantageofthenewlivingarrangement,andMaryafindsherselfi