Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni star in this Italian drama. Set in 1938, at the time of the first meeting between Hitler and Mussolini, housewife Antonietta (Loren) stays at home while her fascist husband Emanuele (John Vernon) goes off to see his idols. As their building empties to see the dictators parade through the streets, Antonietta begins a relationship with her homosexual neighbour Gabriele (Mastroianni) that will change both their lives.