A restless wife, Giovanna, meets Gino, a rough and handsome drifter. their passionate affair leads to the murder of Giovanna's loutish husband, but can their affair survive the guilt? Adapted from James M Cain's classic novel The Postman Always Rings Twice, Ossessione is a dark and provocative drama of sexual tension. It heralded a new era of Italian cinema, establishing Luchino Visconti as a leading and controversial exponent of neo-realism.