Their relationship continues as Sonia agrees to lose weight — ignoring the man’s psychopathy — which she seemingly does as an act of love, not through her own desire.

What at first seems only a benign choice turns into a nightmare for Sonia, made worse because the two have chosen to live together.

On returning home, Vittorio loses his temper and humiliates her, forcing her to be naked and throwing the food she had managed to hide into the fireplace.

Having reached the limit, in order to free herself, Sonia commits an extreme gesture so, taking advantage of a moment of distraction from Vittorio, she grabs the fire iron and kills him by hitting him on the head.

"[5] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times finds this film "an elegantly told tale of obsession that, in failing to take on any larger meaning, rapidly becomes depressing to watch.