How to Lose a Wife and Find a Lover 1978

Crash and betrayal

Alberto, a publicity manager for a large dairy company, crashes into Eleonora's car and returns home to a shocking scene: his wife is in the bath while a plumber lies naked in the shower. He becomes overwhelmed by betrayal and spirals into a suicidal mood, seeking help from a psychoanalyst. This incident sets off the emotional arc of the story.

Therapy and mountain retreat

Alberto and Eleonora each consult separate psychoanalysts, and both are advised to retreat to the mountains for rest and a chance to reset their lives. The guidance emphasizes healing apart from the daily pressures that pulled them into crisis. This advice foreshadows their later chance encounter at a remote inn.

Mountain inn surprise

In the mountains they independently seek rest and end up lodging in the same tiny, remote inn. Alberto does not recognize Eleonora, the woman whose car he collided with months earlier, adding an extra layer of confusion to their reunion.

Marisa arrives and shares a bed

Marisa, Eleonora's young friend, arrives and finds there are no spare rooms. With no alternative, she ends up sharing Eleonora's bed, creating a tense and intimate dynamic in the cramped inn.

Drunken advance and retreat

In the evenings the landlord pours grappa, and Alberto, heavily drunk, makes a pass at Marisa. She refuses and is sent home for the night, signaling Alberto's spiraling behavior and the consequences of his intoxication.

The landlady's bed

After the Marisa incident, Alberto becomes even more drunk and ends up bedding the large but willing landlady. The drunken escapade underscores how far his behavior has fallen.

Bath flood and confrontation

A bath overflows and floods the room, forcing Alberto to clamber into Eleonora's bed while still soaked and intoxicated. In the morning, Eleonora wakes furious to find him there and heads out to ski as he tries to explain himself.

Haystack encounter and marriage

Later in the mountains they crash into an isolated haystack, where sounds and movements hint at a consummation. They are found by a mountain rescue team, and a volunteer chaplain marries their union in articulo mortis.

Return to work and disappearance

Once fit, Alberto returns to work while Eleonora has disappeared, leaving no address or telephone number. Her absence casts a shadow over their improvised marriage and the choices that brought them together.

Model casting and a lift

A casting is held for models to appear in the dairy company's advertisements, and Marisa is among the hopefuls. Eleonora had previously given Marisa a lift to the offices, tying her fate to the unfolding events.

The moment of recognition

Alberto looks out of the window and finally sees Marisa at the offices, recognizing the face from Eleonora's earlier lift. The moment hints at a possible new direction in his life.