This movie reflects the boredom and restlessness of a couple in transition. As with most of his films, this is told from the woman's point of view. Lidia makes a feeble effort of hold on to her relationship with Giovanni but he's so bored, he gives her nothing to hold on to. When they visit a friend who's dying in hospital at the outset of the movie, Lidia sees in that friend the emotion and feeling that should be present in her husband. That visit sets up the passage they take though the night, first at a reception, then at a nightclub - where they witness a sexy cabaret act that points out the lack of passion in their life -then to an all night, mindless society party. They both dabble at liasons at the party and, come the dawn, Giovanni makes a stab at emotion and reconciliation. Too late (she reads a love letter to him that he wrote to her years ago and he asked "who wrote that?") and Lidia tells him that she doesn't love him and he doesn't love her either. Despite the slow unfolding and heavy symbolism (the city of Milan overtakes the couple and prison bars are reflected everywhere) and Giovanni's sleepwalking, this movie held me entranced. Movies about feelings - especially when no words are spoken - aren't made anymore and the movie world is poorer for it.