The New York premiere of this image-rich piece, distantly inspired by a book James Joyce never wrote, opened the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's two-week season on Tuesday night at the City Center (131 West 55th Street).

The film was distantly inspired by G. K. Chesterton's play Magic, which Bergman numbered among his favourites.

They tire not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

What it is is a delicious piece of candy whose amusing package is scrawled with bons mots distantly inspired by Jane Austen.