The initial synopsis of says "Bored wife falls in love..."
Which probably is wrong description,
The neglected wife of a workaholic politician looks for some diversion from boredom by visiting a notorious salon of a nobility - seems to be frequented by the persons-on-pay of both genders. Though, the secrecy is maintained a la belle de jour. She meets a stranger and is attracted, but she despite the utter neglect, is in love with her spouse, and the neglecting husband too adores her, though continues to neglect - taking her for granted syndrome, which she spelt out almost towards the end. With that equation, naturally she has put a line which she won't cross, and backs out at the last moment and disappears. the man has been infatuated with her and per chance comes across - and that too as the wife of an old close acquaintance. She rebuffs his advances quite firmly and even tells in plain words that she isn't ready to sacrifice her home. But he persists and invites her to another soiree in Paris. When her romantic getaway is cancelled by her insensitive husband, she takes a plunge and decides to have the rendezvous. The husband had got clear signals that the mysterious lady of his friend was his wife and he too lands up there and the choice is left to the lady to make - which of the two men she wants.
One would sympathise with the woman in this case and find fault with both the men. One due to his utter insensitivity, and the second, irrespective of her wish, to be left alone, is bent on seducing her, and that too his friend's wife - one really can't call him anything other than cad.
The mindset of the two men are brought out in few seconds - one (the husband) measures the time spend with his beloved (wife) in years and the other (the lover) in seconds... one lives for present, and the moment and the other for the future accumulating bits and pieces and adding up as total experience. Naturally both were wrong and the ideal long-term lover (I mean beloved) falls in between. And on that aspect, the lady made the right choice even if the scales were not so unbalanced in her heart. Another interesting thing was the husband going to the other room, despite all the forbiddings and forebodings. Anyway by then he should have been more than sure of Maria being Angel - too many circumstantial evidences, acquaintance with the Grand Duchess, being in Paris on the day and then, the icing, tune on Piano on telephone background - which incidentally he had promised to her that he won't play again. Though the director, I don't know meant it to be, but the act of the husband was right. - not to show to the wife that he believed or didn't believe her, or as she said, to keep that iota in mind permanently. He was by then sure, but the step was necessary to tell her, that the suspicions and lies shouldn't be there for the relation to succeed and thrive. He knows, he tells her that he knows, and then he still doesn't forgive her, but tells her to make choice, not really blaming her, but indirectly accepting his responsibility for the episode that took place - making her task more complex. had he maintained the insensitivity, it would have been easy for her to chose. But still it wasn't difficult or needed time for her to make up her mind.
The mindset of the two men are brought out in few seconds - one (the husband) measures the time spend with his beloved (wife) in years and the other (the lover) in seconds... one lives for present, and the moment and the other for the future accumulating bits and pieces and adding up as total experience. Naturally both were wrong and the ideal long-term lover (I mean beloved) falls in between. And on that aspect, the lady made the right choice even if the scales were not so unbalanced in her heart. Another interesting thing was the husband going to the other room, despite all the forbiddings and forebodings. Anyway by then he should have been more than sure of Maria being Angel - too many circumstantial evidences, acquaintance with the Grand Duchess, being in Paris on the day and then, the icing, tune on Piano on telephone background - which incidentally he had promised to her that he won't play again. Though the director, I don't know meant it to be, but the act of the husband was right. - not to show to the wife that he believed or didn't believe her, or as she said, to keep that iota in mind permanently. He was by then sure, but the step was necessary to tell her, that the suspicions and lies shouldn't be there for the relation to succeed and thrive. He knows, he tells her that he knows, and then he still doesn't forgive her, but tells her to make choice, not really blaming her, but indirectly accepting his responsibility for the episode that took place - making her task more complex. had he maintained the insensitivity, it would have been easy for her to chose. But still it wasn't difficult or needed time for her to make up her mind.