The first part of a trilogy continued with "The night (La notte)" (1960) and "The eclipse (L'eclisse)" (1962), and ideally also with "Red desert(Deserto rosso)" (1964), "The adventure (L'avventura)" (1960) had a troubled genesis. Filming was interrupted for months, the producer withdrew, there were serious problems in finding funds, the company went on strike and even an unexpected event left actors, technicians and the director on Bianca Island in a sea-storm without covers and food for several nights. In addition to these difficulties of a practical nature there was also the cold reception and criticism the film received at Cannes, accused of being detrimental to a certain quality of "values" of contemporary cinema. The film considers the estrangement of the individual in a society that is gradually becoming mechanized; a theme giving rise to what might be defined as a cinema of alienation. During a cruise to the Lipari Islands, Anna disappears. Her husband Sandro and friends desperately try to find her, but in vain. During the efforts to find her, Sandro falls in love with Anna's friend, Claudia. With the excuse of continuing the search, the two really go on a journey of love. However, the new couple are slowly on their way towards self-destruction, while Claudia endeavours to solve the crisis which had already begun with Sandro, and to continue a love story that bears the worst auspices, perhaps because it originated from the tragedy that struck another human being. Anna has disappeared, and yet she left the shadow of her presence on the couple. The epilogue takes place in Taormina, where Anna, finding Sandro with a prostitute, runs away. He follows her, but it is now too late for their relationship.