When her aristocratic husband, Tullio (Giancarlo Giannini), forsakes her to openly carry on an affair with wealthy widow Teresa Raffo (Jennifer O'Neill), neglected wife Giuliana (Laura Antonelli) takes a young writer (Marc Porel) as her own secret lover. But when Tullio discovers his wife's infidelity, he returns to visit a terrible punishment upon her. Luchino Visconti directs this tragic drama set in 19th-century Italy.