The Thread (Le Acrobate)

Elena, in her forties, is a wealthy chemist, lost in her material comfort, who lives in the north of Italy. At times her cosy existence is invaded by floods of tears for no apparent reason: it's as though she's lost track of where her life is headed. One night she runs over a cantankerous old woman of modest means called Anita. Little by little, they become friends, secretly. Elena visits her regularly and tries to ease her pain. Just after they share some special moments, Anita dies suddenly and Elena is alone again. While she is tidying up her old friend's affairs she finds a photograph of a little girl who lives in the south of Italy. She assumes the girl is a relative and goes to trace the family. Two worlds collide and rub shoulders.