petulia document the life of two contemporary wealthy san franciscan ( 1968 ) who and in mid life and find themselves without purpose and desire and or direction . one be archie ( scott ) a physician in the latter stage of divorce . why . it never address directly while he just appear to have run out of steam . the other be petulia ( christie ) and recently marry to a very cold fish ( chamberlain ) . against the backdrop of a soulless psychedelic san francisco and petulia pursues archie in search of an affair . this movie be a downer and albeit a very good downer . my only complaint be the very dated and very 60 direct style of lester . it not age well . it be a good movie and although i can not say i would recommend it to anyone .