Antonello Aglioti

In 17th century France, a theater troupe is allowed by its patron to go to Paris to produce an erotic play. The head of the troupe dreams of fame while his wife, the leading actress, and a new leading girl fall for each other.

Lidia (Christiana Borghi) passes herself off as a stage actress to interview international star Silvana (Genevieve Page) for her writer boyfriend (David Brandon). Her first obstacle is the boarding house owner and former stage star Pola Mareschi, who is very protective of her tenant's privacy. Lidia is robbed by a motorcycle gang in the middle of the living room and is caught up in a performance put on by the residents. Lidia soon finds herself wanting to stay with the quirky actors as she becomes a performer in their offbeat antics.

Livia returns to her lavish property and cherishes her cherry orchard as a symbol of changing times - she will have to sell her property and abandon her employees whose lives depend on the once flourishing estate.

Based on the 1971 novel "Atti relativi alla morte di Raymond Roussel" (Acts Related to the Death of Raymond Roussel) by co-writer Leonardo Sciascia.