En los baldíos industriales de Italia, Giuliana, esposa y madre, oculta su frágil estado mental a su negligente marido, Ugo. Corrado, un amigo de Ugo, lo visita en un viaje de negocios, y percibe la angustia de Giuliana, y tienen una aventura. Pero la salud mental de Giuliana se agrava rápidamente.

One of the greatest portraits of alienation ever committed to celluloid, Antonioni’s last major collaboration with Monica Vitti was also his first leap into color. By painting nature like an artist to canvas, he transformed the forlorn industrial landscape into a psychic space of ineffable beauty.