The work of Polish filmmaker Andrzej Zulawski may not always be easy to digest, but his films are always fascinating. The director is perhaps best known for his 1981 horror “Possession,” but right before that iconic picture, Zulawski made “L’important c’est d’aimer.” This story of a love triangle still features his distinctive touch, but offers a look at the filmmaker in a slightly different — but no less affecting — register.
READ MORE: The Essentials: The 5 Best Andrzej Zulawski Films
Starring the great Romy Schneider, Fabio Testi, Jacques Dutronc, and the always interesting Klaus Kinski, the story follows B-movie actress Nadine, who gets caught in the middle of the obsessive affections of photographer Servais and her off-kilter husband Jacques. To win her heart, Servais secretly takes a loan from a shady source to finance a production of Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” leading to unexpected consequences. In this exclusive look at the opening scene from the film, you’ll see how Nadine and Servais first cross paths.
Now newly restored and looking better than ever, “L’important c’est d’aimer” is currenty playing at New York City’s Quad Cinema, with more dates across the country to come.