After the tragic drowning of their young daughter, John and Laura Baxter (Sutherland and Christie) move to Venice where Laura meets two mysterious sisters, one of whom claims to be a psychic in contact with their daughter.

It is pedigree alone that makes this benchmark classic essential viewing. Directed by Nicholas Roeg (Performance, Walkabout), adapted from a short story by Daphne Du Maurier, and starring Donald Sutherland (M*A*S*H, Ordinary People) and Julie Christie (Doctor Zhivago), the film lives up to expectations. However the work of lesser-known contributors, like cinematographer Anthony Richmond, is not to be overlooked.

There are so many beautiful touches to this film. The striking vision of a child running in a red coat is an absolutely unforgettable image; the way in which Richmond's camera weaves through the dark Venetian alleyways beautifully mirrors the manner in which Roeg leads us through the psychological screenplay, never revealing what's around the next corner until it's upon us. This use of imagery both as a mirror for emotions and the psychological aspects of the screenplay is a prevalent theme. John's work as an architect sees him restoring one of the many gothic cathedrals shown throughout the film. Intellectuals can apply any of a dozen meanings to this but what strikes hardest is the sheer emotional clout this collective of talents have at their disposal. The grief over the girl's death is deeply disturbing, the love between John and Laura is beautiful but tinged with sadness, and most effective of all is the devastating terror brought on by the conclusion.