: Critics note that the narrative explores traditional gender roles—the man as the "author" of the story and the woman as the "reproducer"—often ending with a grim "triumph" of male authority over female maternity.
The story is set in late 19th-century Italy and follows Tullio Hermil, an arrogant aristocrat who openly flaunts his mistress, Countess Teresa Raffo, to his wife, Giuliana. L'Innocente
: The film stars Giancarlo Giannini as Tullio, Laura Antonelli as Giuliana, and Jennifer O’Neill as the mistress, Countess Teresa Raffo. : Critics note that the narrative explores traditional