Arquivo

In Milan, in the spring of 1968, a postman by the name of Angelo - a name of significance - delivers a letter at a villa, the property of an industrial manufacturer, announcing the arrival the following day of an unknown guest. The boy (Terence Stamp) is endowed with no quality in particular and spends most of his time engrossed in reading a book by Rimbaud. This strange attitude, quite indifferent to all and everyone, nevertheless, is attractive to those residing in the house, to one and then another. First is Emília (Laura Betti), the maid, who, fearful she will not be able to have him for her own, attempts to kill herself. However, he saves her and makes love to her. Next is Piero, who is to discover his sexual diversity with the guest. Next come Lucia, wife and mistress of the house, Odetta, an introverted student and advocate of paternal authority and, last, the father himself, the major representative of the bourgeiosie who holds the means of production in society. And the visitor leaves, just as he came, called away by the same postman who announced his arrival. Deprived of the love of the stranger, all the members of the family are to go their individual ways. Emilia, the maid, is the only one to see the true nature of the guest as holy. She returns to the village where she was born in wait of a second visit.