The Sunday Woman

Year: 1975

Runtime: 109 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Luigi Comencini

MysteryCrime

The police have the victim, the weapon and the suspect, but lack the mysterious ‘Sunday Woman.’ Commissioner Santamaria investigates the architect Mr. Garrone’s murder, which draws him into Turin’s high society. He suspects Anna Carla and falls for her. Meanwhile, Lello, lover of her gay friend Massimo, pursues another lead, confusing the case, and the second murder follows.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Sunday Woman yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

The Sunday Woman (1975) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of The Sunday Woman (1975), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Inspector Santamaria, Chief of Homicide Squad, Marcello Mastroianni, is assigned to investigate the murder of the architect Garrone, Claudio Gora, a second-rate fellow living on the fringes of polite society, who has been battered to death with a stone phallus.

Anna Carla Dosio, Jacqueline Bisset, the bored wife of a businessman who is often away, brings to the police a discarded draft of a letter she planned to send to her dear friend Massimo Campi, Jean-Louis Trintignant, in which she says they must rid Garrone.

Massimo Campi, Jean-Louis Trintignant, has a secret lover, a young clerk named Lello Riviera, Aldo Reggiani, who works in the city’s planning department, and Santamaria has the young man followed.

It emerges that Garrone was acting for the widow Ines Tabusso, Lina Volonghi, who lives in a crumbling villa, along with a “simple” sister. The house sits on Turin’s renowned Hill, and if she could obtain permission to build around the villa’s surroundings, she would make a fortune.

The Inspector is warned by his boss to move with care now that rich and influential people are involved. All his suspects have motives for killing Garrone, and none have solid alibis for the time of his death. While Campi withholds cooperation, to protect his homosexuality, Anna Carla enthusiastically assists Santamaria and promises him a secret rendezvous, beginning with lunch.

Hoping to win the cooperation of Ines, Santamaria mounts a night raid to clear her property of prostitutes.

By coincidence, a Saturday morning finds all the involved at the Balon, the city’s flea market, where Riviera is to meet with the possible murderer, but he is himself killed by a stone pestle.

The culprit is Ines, who killed Garrone after he had discovered by chance that on her property there was an ancient and artistic stone used as a laundry, set under the provisions of Art Superintendence, so the Tabusso grounds were forbidden to sell; Garrone had tried to coax her into believing the interdiction would be removed if she bribed the right people.

With the case solved, Santamaria and Anna Carla are able to enjoy the private lunch they promised each other. Their quiet, sunlit afternoon ends when she must get out of bed to start packing for the family holidays.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:22

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Sophisticated Society Murder Mysteries like The Sunday Woman

Murders among the upper crust reveal their bored lives and dangerous secrets.If you enjoyed The Sunday Woman, this list features movies like it: elegant crime stories set in high society. Discover similar murder mysteries where investigations into the upper crust uncover adultery, hidden desires, and cynical truths. These films often have a steady, investigative pace and a sophisticated, bittersweet tone.

sophisticatedcynicalinvestigativeseductivemysteriousboredtreacherous

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a formal investigation—often by an outsider detective—into a murder that disrupts a seemingly perfect, wealthy community. The plot unravels through a web of social interactions, exposing hidden sexual secrets, infidelity, and moral decay among the elite, leading to a conclusion that solves the crime but leaves a cynical aftertaste.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared setting of privilege, their focus on secrets as the true motive for crime, and their detached, observational tone. They offer a similar experience of intellectual puzzle-solving paired with a voyeuristic look into the corrupt lives of the beautiful and bored.

Bittersweet Investigative Movies with Endings like The Sunday Woman

The case gets solved, but personal connections are left unresolved and bittersweet.For viewers who liked the ending of The Sunday Woman, this collection features similar investigative movies with bittersweet conclusions. Explore police procedurals and mysteries where solving the case comes with a personal cost, leaving relationships unresolved and a cynical aftertaste. These stories focus on the emotional weight of the investigation itself.

investigativebittersweetcynicalmelancholicmethodicalcomplexromantic tension

Narrative Summary

The narrative is driven by a methodical investigation, but the detective's personal life becomes entangled with the case, typically through a romantic liaison with a suspect or witness. While the crime is logically solved, the human connections formed during the investigation are transient or broken, resulting in an ending that is professionally successful but personally unfulfilling.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the emotional cost of investigation. They balance a neutral, procedural tone with medium emotional weight, culminating in a bittersweet resolution that prioritizes thematic richness over neat, happy endings. The similarity lies in the specific emotional mix of intellectual closure and romantic melancholy.

Unlock the Full Story of The Sunday Woman

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Sunday Woman in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Sunday Woman is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Sunday Woman Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Sunday Woman with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Sunday Woman

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Sunday Woman. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

The Sunday Woman Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Sunday Woman that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About The Sunday Woman

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Sunday Woman: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to The Sunday Woman

Discover movies like The Sunday Woman that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.