la contessa castiglione (1942)

the countess castiglione, in paris for a delicate worldly and diplomatic mission entrusted to her by her cousin count of cavour, sees an old flame after a long time: a mazzinian carbonaro convinced and opposed to the cavour policy. the meeting takes place at the crucial moment of the countess's intrigues at the court of napoleon iii, and seeing her ancient love rekindles in her that passion which is not entirely dormant. but the alternative in which she is placed by her lover, or he or politics, leads her to choose, albeit reluctantly, her patriotic task, sacrificing her dearest affection.