In Pavia, Italy, the businessman Nino Monti (Marcello Mastroianni) lives a loveless marriage with his wife Teresa (Eva Maria Meineke). One day, he decides to go to his office by bus and he sees an old woman without small change to pay the bus ticket and he pays her ticket. While having dinner, he receives a phone call from the woman and she tells that she is Anna Brigatti (Romy Schneider), his former lover from twenty years ago. When his wife goes to the church, Nino decides to walk along the old neighborhood where Anna lived and she meets and kisses him. The disturbed Nino returns home and on the next morning, he learns that Anna´s former super was found dead and the suspect is her nephew. Soon Nino has an encounter with his friends and he learns that Anna died three years ago. He drives to her husband´s house in a nearby town to meet her husband, Conte Zighi (Wolfgang Preiss), but he finds Anna instead. He rekindles his love for her and they schedule an encounter by the lake. While rowing a boat with Anna, she falls off into the lake and vanishes. Nino calls the police and they do not find any corpse. What is happening to Nino?
"Fantasma d'amore" is an uncanny and melancholic love story with beautiful cinematography. The greatest attractions are the adorable Romy Schneider and Marcello Mastroianni in the lead roles. The conclusion is ambiguous, with Nino obsessed for Anna and not letting her go to the afterlife. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Fantasma de Amor" ("Ghost of Love")
