This film is based on three short stories by French writer Guy de Maupassant – “The Masque”, “La Maison Tellier” and “The Model” which share the topic of amorous pleasures in diverse forms, from indulgence to love. While Maupassant emphasizes the joyful aspects of desire and pleasure, Max Ophüls added darker subtext to the stories. This epic comedy drama walks the line between elegance and frivolity, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration in a black-and-white film.

Max Ophüls

The iconic German director started working as a theatre actor at an early age, eventually also directing. He discovered cinema as Anatole Litvak's assistant and throughout his career in Germany, France and the USA, he made many films that belong to the classics of the world cinema. He was nominated for two Oscars and won a FIPRESCI for lifetime achievement at Berlinale.