Senso

In spring 1866, Italy is in the midst of its unification struggle, with Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia on the cusp of joining Italy. The looming conflict frames every personal choice in the story. The film unfolds against this turbulent backdrop.

A performance of Il Trovatore at La Fenice in Venice is interrupted by boisterous Italian nationalist protests against Austrian troops in the theater. Livia Serpieri witnesses the disruption and is drawn into the charged mood around the conflict. The moment foreshadows the political currents shaping the lovers' fate.

During the commotion, Livia encounters Austrian Lieutenant Franz Mahler and they begin a secret affair. He is connected to her cousin Roberto's exile, a fact she pretends not to see. The romance draws them into danger and the glare of public suspicion.

Franz uses Livia's money and social status to further his own interests, and she remains largely unaware of his manipulation. Their relationship grows more transactional as he leans on her wealth. The dynamic hints at a ruinous dependency growing between them.

Franz begins failing to show up for their trysts, and Livia spirals into jealousy and paranoia. She struggles to understand his absence and the lack of affection behind his actions. The emotional tension intensifies as trust erodes.

The war forces the lovers apart, with Livia's husband taking her to their villa in the countryside to avoid the carnage. The separation ends their private life but sets the stage for further misfortune. The home becomes a fragile sanctuary under siege by the conflict.

Late one night Franz slips into the estate and asks for money to bribe army doctors to keep him off the battlefield. Livia hands over the funds she had set aside for Roberto, deepening her entanglement with his schemes. The act ties her fate to his treacherous plan.

The Austrians overwhelm the Italians at the Battle of Custoza, a turning point that amplifies the consequences of Livia's betrayal. The outcome worsens the Italians' already precarious position and reverberates through the lovers' lives. The war's momentum amplifies the tragedy that follows.

A letter from Franz arrives, thanking Livia for the money that helped him avoid the front. He warns her not to come to Verona yet, arguing the journey would be too dangerous. The message rekindles a fragile hope while signaling ongoing peril.

Ignoring the warning, Livia leaves for Verona to see Franz. She discovers him in the company of a young prostitute named Clara, and he openly mocks her for trusting him. The revelation shatters her illusions about their relationship.

A drunken Franz forces Livia to sit with him and the prostitute, then throws her out into the streets. She wanders among drunken Austrian soldiers as her grip on reality slips away. The relationship collapses into public humiliation.

Livia carries Franz's letter to the Austrian Army headquarters and hands it to a general. The general recognizes the treason, and Franz is executed by firing squad. The event seals the tragedy as Livia's own world unravels.

With Franz dead, Livia's psyche collapses as she runs into the night crying his name. The story closes on her ruined state, a vivid portrait of love twisted by jealousy and war. The personal cost of political conflict is laid bare.