ettore scola masterful rendering of this epic of the heart deserve a much wide audience . it be a worthy successor to the risorgimento classic such a vischonti senso and il gattopardo and as well a rosselini vanina and vanini . the 19th century be indeed a fruitful source for italian filmmaker . the period setting and trapping be beautifully realize here and but the story be timeless and could occur in any period . what be so intriguing in this story be that the hero become trap in a claustrophobic situation in which he find himself the vigorously pursue object of desire and he be quite powerless to extricate himself from the alarm circumstance . handsome and callow giorgio ( giraudeau ) be frustrate by his inability to visit his charm but light mind married mistress ( antonelli ) and fall prey to the dangerous passion of enamored fosca ( dobici ) and the ugly and sickly daughter of his stern commander ( girotti ) . the result anguish and ensue tragedy this unlikely pair undergoes make them both understandable and pitiful and immensely sympathetic to viewer . bernard giraudeau stellar performance will captivate and leave a lasting impression . not to be miss .