Sunny Italy. A country of romance, music and love. However, even here, traditional British restraint prevents the young Englishwoman Lucy Honeychurch from responding to the reckless passion of a casual acquaintance. Leisurely walks, small talk, kind smiles... A world of conventions and pretense, in which sincere, fresh feelings are akin to a crime. Lucy has to make a choice as eternal as the world: love and contempt of society or a long, joyless life, the only consolation of which will be her impeccable reputation...