Roseland (film)

Roseland is a 1977 American drama anthology film directed by James Ivory, written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and starring Teresa Wright, Lou Jacobi, Geraldine Chaplin, Helen Gallagher, Lilia Skala, and Christopher Walken. The film is composed of three interconnected stories set in and around the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Each story focuses on a different couple and their relationship to the iconic dance hall and to each other.

The three segments are:

• "The Waltz": An aging widow named May (Teresa Wright) regularly attends Roseland, hoping to relive memories of her late husband and recapture the romance of her youth. She becomes infatuated with a younger dancer named Stan (Lou Jacobi).

• "The Hustle": A con artist named Marilyn (Geraldine Chaplin) attempts to swindle a naive older woman named Cleo (Helen Gallagher) out of her money, claiming she can teach her the secrets of the hustle dance.

• "The Tango": A European immigrant named Madam Fontana (Lilia Skala) has been a fixture at Roseland for decades, known for her elegant tango. She introduces a young gigolo named Russ (Christopher Walken) to the dance, changing both of their lives.

The film explores themes of aging, loneliness, memory, fantasy, and the enduring allure of dance as a means of connection and escape. It received generally positive reviews for its performances, direction, and poignant portrayal of its characters. The film was produced by Ismail Merchant, marking another collaboration between Merchant Ivory Productions, known for their literary adaptations and character-driven dramas.