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.

Classic drama from legendary Italian director Michaelangelo Antonioni. Walking through the dilapidated streets of Milan, stopping and staring aimlessly out at the world, is strikingly beautiful Lydia (Jeanne Moreau). Her husband, Giovanni (Marcello Mastroianni), is a popular author whose newest publication is being celebrated with a signing. When Lydia returns home later that night, she is unresponsive to Giovanni, and acts bored and aloof. Giovanni decides to take Lydia to a nightclub in town where they watch African dancers perform acrobatic cabaret acts with full wine glasses. But Lydia is still bored, so Giovanni takes her to a friend's elegant cocktail party, where they both stay all night, drifting from one flirtation to the next, uninterested in each other. An emotional and inconclusive conversation between the couple ends out the night as the sun rises.

An engaged man hears that his mistress is dying, and spontaneously promises to marry her if she survives. This she does, and holds him to his promise. After they are married, she gives him another surprise: three fully grown sons! Sophia Loren received an Oscar nomination for her performance in this comedy.