While shooting a movie in Brazil, Francesca, an actress, decides to finally sort out a dark chapter of her youth, and to visit her sister Paola in Rio de Janeiro with whom she has been out of touch for more than twenty years. That was when their parents separated, obliging the two children to follow suit. The two sisters are rather distant with one another at first, but gradually grow closer, and Francesca finds out more about her father's suicide: he had apparently been abandoned by his mistress of many years just beforehand. The intimate relationship between Francesca and Paola is only of short duration, however: when Francesca accompanies Paolo to a party held by her boyfriend Massimo, she and the good looking young man instantly feel a powerful sexual attraction. Paola suddenly starts a fierce quarrel in public. A short while later someone makes an attempt on Francesca's life, and the two sisters then have a reconciliatory talk.