La provinciana

Gemma, the uneducated daughter of a landlord, falls in love with a wealthy young man, Paolo Sartori. But she can’t marry him, as her mother reveals that he is her illegitimate half-brother. Overcoming her disappointment, she resigns herself to marrying Franco Vagnuzzi, a professor for whom she feels no real attraction and who neglects her. Gemma meets Countess Elvira, who persuades her to become the lover of a man called Vittoni. Subsequently she wants her to sleep with other acquaintances of hers. Franco suspects nothing, while Elvira starts to blackmail Gemma and installs herself in their home. When Elvira threatens to follow the couple to Rome, where Franco is about to be transferred, Gemma, exasperated, attacks her and wounds her with a knife. With this act she succeeds in driving her away and reconciling with her husband. (Venice International Film Festival)