Tino (Danilo Mattei) arrives as a guest in the large family home of the Stolz's, Fabio (Vittorio Gassman) and Elisa (Catherine Deneuve) in Venice, eager to take a painting class at art school. He immediately notices the uneasy atmosphere hovering over the huge, partially dilapidated house. His uncle turns out to be a surly and severe man who treats his wife, Elisa, with little respect. She, in turn, seems psychologically submissive and resigned to this controlled existence. To further disturb Tino's stay, there are strange noises coming from the attic, a place he is initially forbidden to visit, but which he then - thanks to the elderly housekeeper - discovers is the secret room where more surprises lay in store. Anima persa's original motion picture soundtrack was composed by Francis Lai.