a visit by hitler in rome be the backdrop of this tender story of love and friendship and homosexuality and fascism . sophia loren play the housewife and mother of six child who stay at home while her entire family go to the military parade in honor of hitler and mussolini . she have to stay at home since the family can not afford a maid . she would have love to go though as she along with the entire housing complex where she live be an ardent admirer of il duce . there be one exception though . across the yard sit marcello mastroianni on his chair contemplate suicide . the reason . he be homosexual and because of that have recently lose his job a a radio announcer . the film really take off when these two people meet by chance . mastroianni be in despair and badly in need of a friend . loren and frustrate by her own cheating husband misunderstand mastroianni and in a masterfully shot and direct and act scene on the roof of the building complex offer her body to him only to be reject . the initial chock be replace soon afterwards by her hunger for this man and this anti fascist and this homosexual and this other world who be so willing to give her all that she long for . this be a beautifully craft movie with two of the most talented actor ever . loren prove here that she be an actress of caliber when well direct . this be a simple but yet powerful film about fascism and love and ordinary people and most importantly the human condition . despite it sad end there be a glimpse of hope in the denouement and thing will change and someone have understand .