Sergi Belbel's acclaimed Catalan drama presents a disturbing picture of contemporary Western society set against a background of urban alienation and violence. Inspired by Arthur Schnitzler's play La Ronde , each of the ten scenes presents a pair of characters in a confused and contradictory relationship. Sergi Belbel's play Caresses was first performed in this English translation by John London at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 1997. It was filmed in 1998 to critical acclaim.