Paul, a middle-aged American mourning his wife's suicide, meets a young, engaged Parisian woman at an apartment that both are interested in renting. They begin an anonymous sexual relationship there, that will end tragically.

The film generated considerable controversy, in Italy police seized all copies and the Italian Supreme Court sentenced to destroy them. Bertolucci and Brando themselves were served with a suspended sentence in prison. Over time, the scenes considered unacceptable lost weight in the critics and public feedback and the deep dramatic nature of the work could emerge.