A Venetian musician at La Fenice theatre is affected by an incurable disease. By chance he meets his ex-wife who is now living with another man. She finally realizes that she is still in love with him.One of the most romantic films ever made and that still bears the pass of time despite some camera cliches of the 70's. Venice at its best is the setting for a poignant story of lovers parting for ever in a day's time. Sensitive and powerfully emotional, but never corny, with Musante and Bolkan as passional as you may wish lovers can be. A wonderful soundtrack and a beautiful cinematography help to make this film be a delight thirty-two years after it was made. Not to be missed.

Florinda Bolkan plays the daughter of a prominant English politician who keeps having recurring "nightmares" in which she makes love to a bisexual nympho who lives downstairs and conducts all-night LSD orgies. When the nocturnal wet dreams become murderous, the neighbor turns up dead, and Florinda is the main suspect. Did she actually commit the murder she dreamt about? Is she being framed by her philandering husband? Did Florinda actually make nightly visits downstairs aside from borrowing the occasional cup of sugar? How DID Florinda's letter opener end up stuck in the dead neighbor's chest anyway? The complex plot unfolds amidst red herrings, outlandish dream sequences, lesbian hanky panky, and ominous close-ups of Florinda Bolkan's guilt-ridden facial expressions every time someone mentions the murder. All this takes place in swinging late-1960's London.

1911年，德国作曲家阿森巴赫（德克•博加德）怀带丧女之痛来到威尼斯，想藉水城美景舒缓心情，可是一切景致所勾起的不过是更加伤心的回忆，直到在旅馆里邂逅美少年塔奇奥（伯恩•安德森），对方宛如希腊雕像般的容颜才令他浑身颤栗，浑然忘我地沉醉在激动的热情中。 其后，威尼斯城被瘟疫所笼罩，但官方刻意封锁了消息。阿森巴赫逐渐发现这一惊人的危机时，没像其他人一样慌不择路想尽快逃离，相反为了多看塔奇奥一眼，甘愿染上瘟疫命丧威尼斯。

一个道貌岸然、威风凛凛的警官因为嫉妒和侮辱而杀死了情妇，并若无其事地调查此案，后来因心虚毁灭证据。由于他人性尚未彻底泯灭，在强有力的证人面前承认了罪行。但所有同事和长官为了自身的利益而阻止他认罪，并“循循善诱”。在众人的启发和教育下，他终于承认了自己的“清白无辜”，证明了自己是“不受怀疑的公民”。 这是意大利70年代著名的政治电影，对法西斯式的政治作风和警察局内部的罪恶腐败进行了猛烈抨击，手法辛辣而不失沉稳，情节也起伏跌宕，男主角的表现更令人难忘。本片获1970年戛纳国际电影节评审团特别奖和奥斯卡最佳外语片奖。

同志电影史最重要的作品之一，它不只是第一部直接道出‘同性恋’字眼的英语片，更勇于碰触性取向成为被抹黑、勒索和恐惧的社会现实。在同志电影多如过江之鲫的今日，它的直陈无碍更显难得。英国红星狄鲍嘉也在突破形象后，日后毫无忌惮地演出维斯康堤、法斯宾达的电影。当年囿于英国电检而消失的十分钟，也将以全新数位修复拷贝，忠实重现。