What Is Le Amiche About?
The premise of Le Amiche in 299 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In post‑war Turin the sleek lines of a new Roman fashion house contrast with the city’s industrial rhythm, creating a world where elegance and ambition glide side by side. The streets hum with the promise of modernity, yet the lingering shadows of old class divisions give the atmosphere a quiet tension. Within this setting, a sophisticated social circle gathers in elegant cafés and boutique hotels, their conversations weaving between art, commerce, and the unspoken codes that govern their lives.
Clelia returns to her native city after years in Rome, tasked with overseeing the opening of the new salon branch. Though she now works for a thriving fashion empire, she carries the memory of modest beginnings in Turin’s poorer quarters, a background that fuels both her determination and her self‑reliance. Practical and resourceful, she approaches the project with professional rigor, yet the familiarity of the city awakens a lingering curiosity about the world she left behind.
Soon she is drawn into the orbit of a group of affluent, upper‑middle‑class women. Mariella exudes a coquettish charm, while Momina navigates a complicated personal life marked by separations and new affairs. Nene, a successful ceramics artist, shares her studio with Lorenzo, a painter whose talents are still seeking wider recognition. Among the men, Cesare, the architect responsible for the salon’s construction, and his assistant Carlo represent different social strata, subtly reminding Clelia of the invisible boundaries that persist despite her own rise.
The film unfolds as a delicate study of desire, independence, and the subtle power plays that surface when disparate worlds collide. Through polished dialogue and the graceful choreography of everyday encounters, the story invites the viewer to sense the quiet yearning that pulses beneath the surface of polite society, leaving the promises and contradictions of ambition alive in every lingering glance.
What Happens in Le Amiche?
The complete story of Le Amiche, from the first scene to the last, in 504 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Clelia [Eleonora Rossi Drago] returns from Rome to her native city Turin, assigned to supervise the opening of a branch of the Roman fashion salon where she previously has been working. By coincidence, she is confronted with the suicide attempt of a young woman named Rosetta [Madeleine Fischer] and gets acquainted with her circle of Turin socialites. The group includes the coquettish Mariella [Anna Maria Pancani], Momina [Yvonne Furneaux], who lives separated from her husband and has changing affairs, and successful ceramics artist Nene [Valentina Cortese], who lives with Lorenzo [Gabriele Ferzetti], an unrecognised painter. The construction work on the salon, whose opening lies only a few days ahead, is not finished yet, for which Clelia scolds Cesare [Franco Fabrizi], the architect in charge, who turns out to be Momina’s present affair. During her inspection, Clelia also meets Cesare’s assistant Carlo [Ettore Manni]. Although she feels attracted to him, she is soon confronted with the social boundaries between Carlo, who is of working class descent, and herself, regardless of the fact that Clelia grew up in one of Turin’s poor quarters as well.
After Rosetta’s return from the hospital, the five women, Cesare and Lorenzo take a trip to the beach. It becomes evident that Rosetta has fallen in love with Nene’s partner Lorenzo, for whom she modeled and whom she had tried to ring up on the night of her suicide attempt. Rosetta tells Clelia of her inner emptiness and that she loathes the predictability which surrounds her. Clelia offers Rosetta a job at the salon as a means to find a different perspective on her life.
Rosetta tries to talk Lorenzo into leaving Nene for her, but Lorenzo remains hesitant. Eager to spend every moment possible with her lover, she decides against the opportunity to work at Clelia’s salon. During the opening event, Nene, who has sensed the attraction between Rosetta and Lorenzo, offers Rosetta to let him go. When the group later meets in a restaurant, Cesare mocks Lorenzo for his lack of artistic success, and the two men get into a fight. Rosetta follows Lorenzo, who tells her that he cannot give her the love she seeks from him. Lorenzo returns to Nene, who eventually accepts him back, even if it means giving up the chance to go to New York for an exhibition of her work.
Soon after, Rosetta drowns herself in the Po river. Disgusted by Momina’s self-righteousness in the face of her friend’s death, Clelia attacks her for her coldness and cynicism in front of the salon customers and her employer. Convinced that she will lose her job, Clelia hints at Carlo the possibility of a relationship, but when her employer offers her to return to the salon in Rome, she chooses her professional career and independence over the prospect of becoming, in her words, “a peaceful wife in a modest home.” She asks him to meet her one last time, but Carlo does not show up, instead secretly watching her departure on the train to Rome.
Le Amiche Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Clelia returns to Turin to supervise the salon opening” to “Clelia departs to Rome”. 15 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Clelia returns to Turin to supervise the salon opening
Clelia arrives back from Rome to Turin and is assigned to supervise the opening of a branch of the Roman fashion salon. The assignment marks the start of her balancing professional ambition with personal entanglements. She surveys the under-construction salon and readies for the imminent opening.
When:start Where:Turin
- 2
Rosetta's suicide attempt and the social circle is revealed
During her inspection, Clelia is confronted with Rosetta's suicide attempt, which introduces her to Turin's circle of socialites: Mariella, Momina, Nene, and the artist Lorenzo. The encounter places Clelia at the center of a world of status, flirtation, and hidden tensions. The incident foreshadows the emotional upheavals to come.
When:soon after arrival Where:Turin
- 3
Salon construction delays and Cesare's affair
The construction work on the salon is not finished, forcing delays. Clelia scolds Cesare, the architect in charge, who is revealed to be Momina's current lover. Cesare's assistant Carlo is introduced amid these tensions.
When:inspection period Where:Turin
- 4
Clelia is drawn to Carlo despite class boundaries
Clelia feels an attraction to Carlo, but she is reminded of the social boundaries between him, a working-class man, and herself, though she too grew up in Turin's poorer quarters. The attraction unsettles her as she navigates her professional role.
When:during inspection Where:Turin
- 5
Rosetta returns from hospital and a beach trip is planned
After Rosetta's hospital return, the group—including Cesare and Lorenzo—takes a trip to the beach. The excursion exposes the group’s dynamics and Rosetta’s fragile emotional state. The setting shifts from interiors to the seaside, heightening the romance and jealousy at play.
When:soon after hospital return Where:Beach near Turin
- 6
Rosetta confesses love for Lorenzo
It becomes evident that Rosetta has fallen for Lorenzo, the man she modeled for. She reveals the sting of the unfulfilled love and recounts the night of her suicide attempt. The emotional tension deepens amid the sun and surf.
When:during trip Where:Beach
- 7
Clelia offers Rosetta a job at the salon
To give Rosetta a new direction, Clelia offers her a job at the salon, hoping to provide a different perspective on life. Rosetta considers the opportunity as a path away from her emptiness. The moment anchors Clelia’s professional resolve.
When:after confession Where:Beach
- 8
Rosetta tries to win Lorenzo; he remains hesitant
Rosetta urges Lorenzo to leave Nene for her, hoping to claim his affection. Lorenzo remains hesitant and torn between loyalty and desire. The tension tests the boundaries between friendship, love, and art.
When:post-offer Where:Turin
- 9
Opening night reveals attraction; Rosetta offered to let him go
At the salon’s opening, Nene senses Rosetta’s attraction to Lorenzo and suggests letting him go. The event intensifies underlying rivalries and threatens the stability of the salon’s new venture. The social spectacle underscores the cost of desire.
When:opening night Where:Turin
- 10
Restaurant confrontation between Cesare and Lorenzo
The group later meets at a restaurant where Cesare mocks Lorenzo’s artistic success. The two men quarrel, and Rosetta follows Lorenzo, seeking reassurance that he cannot give her what she desires. The scene crystallizes the fragility of their relationships.
When:after opening Where:Restaurant
Show the other 5 events of Le Amiche Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Lorenzo reconciles with Nene
Lorenzo admits he cannot give Rosetta the love she wants and returns to Nene. Nene ultimately accepts him back, even if it means forfeiting a chance to go to New York for her own exhibition. The couple’s drama reshapes the circle’s dynamics.
When:after the fight Where:Restaurant
- 12
Rosetta drowns; Clelia condemns Momina
Rosetta drowns herself in the Po River, shattering the group’s spell of indulgence. Clelia denounces Momina’s self-righteous cynicism in front of the salon's customers. The tragedy exposes the emotional price of their social world.
When:shortly after the fight Where:Po River
- 13
Clelia rejects a Rome return; pursues independence
Convinced of losing her job, Clelia confronts the possibility of returning to Rome, but her employer’s offer only strengthens her resolve. She chooses her professional career and independence over becoming a traditional wife. The moment seals her stance in the face of social expectations.
When:after Rosetta's death Where:Turin
- 14
Clelia asks Carlo to meet; he doesn't show
Before leaving, Clelia hints at continuing the relationship with Carlo and asks him to meet one last time. Carlo fails to appear, instead watching her departure from the platform. The moment underscores the costs of pursuing love across class boundaries.
When:immediately before departure Where:Turin
- 15
Clelia departs to Rome
Clelia boards a train to Rome, choosing her professional path over personal attachment. The journey marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another as she moves toward independence.
When:end Where:Train to Rome
Who Are the Main Characters in Le Amiche?
8 characters, among them Clelia — Eleonora Rossi Drago, Cesare Pedoni — Franco Fabrizi and Nene — Valentina Cortese: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- C—
Clelia — Eleonora Rossi Drago
Played by Eleonora Rossi Drago
Clelia is a strong-willed, independent woman who returns from Rome to Turin to supervise the opening of a branch of a Roman fashion salon. She navigates the social constraints of Turin's circle, feels a pull toward Carlo, and ultimately prioritizes her professional career and autonomy over marriage.
- 💼 Ambition
- 💖 Romance
- ⚖️ Social Constraints
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Cesare Pedoni — Franco Fabrizi
Played by Franco Fabrizi
Cesare is the architect in charge of the salon’s opening and Momina's current affair. He clashes with Clelia over the project, and his relationship with Momina exposes power dynamics within the group. He also mocks Lorenzo, highlighting tensions between art and social status.
- 🏗 Architect
- 💔 Affair
- ⚖️ Power Dynamics
-
Nene — Valentina Cortese
Played by Valentina Cortese
Nene is a successful ceramics artist who lives with Lorenzo and moves in the same social circle as Clelia. She experiences shifting affections and ultimately must decide whether to hold onto Lorenzo or pursue her own ambitions, including a potential move to New York.
- 🎨 Artist
- 💘 Love
- 🗺️ Relationship Dynamics
- L—
Lorenzo — Gabriele Ferzetti
Played by Gabriele Ferzetti
Lorenzo is an unrecognized painter living with Nene, whom Rosetta falls for. He grapples with his artistic career and emotional commitments, ultimately returning to Nene and choosing stability over a new life with Rosetta.
- 🎨 Artist
- 💘 Love
- RS
Rosetta Savoni — Madeleine Fischer
Played by Madeleine Fischer
Rosetta is a young woman who returns from the hospital after a suicide attempt and enters the social circle with a longing for meaning. Her feelings for Lorenzo drive the plot, and her despair culminates in a tragic end, revealing the emptiness behind the glittering surface.
- 💔 Love
- 🕊️ Tragedy
- 💭 Inner emptiness
- C—
Carlo — Ettore Manni
Played by Ettore Manni
Carlo is Cesare’s assistant from a working-class background. His presence highlights the social divide between Clelia and her circle, as well as the friction between desire and social boundaries.
- 👔 Working Class
- 🤝 Class Barriers
- ❤️ Forbidden Romance
- MD
Momina De Stefani — Yvonne Furneaux
Played by Yvonne Furneaux
Momina is a socialite who lives separated from her husband and has changing affairs. Her role in the group illustrates the complex web of friendships, loyalties, and romantic entanglements among Turin’s elite.
- 💞 Affairs
- 🏛 Socialite
- M—
Mariella — Anna Maria Pancani
Played by Anna Maria Pancani
Mariella is the coquettish member of the circle, whose demeanor and actions reflect the social performance and gender expectations within the group.
- 💃 Flirtation
- 🎭 Social Play
Where and When Is Le Amiche Set?
Le Amiche is set in Turin, Po River, Rome and the beach. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Turin, Po River, Rome, the beach
Turin is the primary setting where Clelia returns to oversee the opening of the salon. The city is portrayed as a refined, fashion-conscious hub with a tight circle of socialites. The Po River and a day at the beach provide contrast between the urban social world and moments of escape. The salon’s Rome-origin hints at a wider national network beyond Turin.
- 🏛 Turin
- 🗺️ Italy
- 🌊 Po River
- 🏖 Beach
What Are the Themes of Le Amiche?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Social Boundaries, Independence & Career and Love, Jealousy & Mortality.
-
01
Social Boundaries
The story examines rigid social hierarchies between classes and gender. Clelia navigates expectations from Turin's upper-class salon world while confronting the working-class Carlo and the allure of romance beyond status. The tension between appearances and authentic desire is a central thread. The film exposes how reputation governs behavior and choices.
-
02
Independence & Career
Clelia rejects a conventional domestic role in favor of professional autonomy, choosing to pursue opportunities in Rome rather than settle for domestic peace. The narrative contrasts personal ambition with romantic entanglements. Her choice reflects a broader critique of women's agency in a male-dominated society. The salon setting becomes a battleground for respect and independence.
-
03
Love, Jealousy & Mortality
Romantic rivalries drive the plot as Rosetta's longing and Lorenzo's ambiguity test loyalties. Jealousy triggers confrontations and reveals the emptiness beneath social façades. Rosetta's suicide becomes a stark counterpoint to the group's glittering surface, exposing emotional fragility. The story probes how affection, betrayal, and despair intersect within a tightly knit circle.
What Kind of Film Is Le Amiche?
Melancholic in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A melancholic and socially observant drama that follows a working-class woman's immersion into a cynical circle of socialites, exploring themes of unrequited love, class disparity, and tragic self-destruction with a sobering realism.
- melancholic
- introspective
- socially observant
- cynical
- romantic disillusionment
- class-conscious
- friendship
- social class
- unrequited love
- self-realization
Content notes: suicide.
Quiz
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