Set against the stunning backdrop of the Mediterranean, Swept Away is Wertmüller's most famous and controversial film about sex, love and politics. On an elegant yacht cruising off the coast of Sardinia, the haughty Raffaella (Melato), torments Gennarino (Giannini), her manservant / sailor. When the two find themselves stranded on a desert island, their roles are reversed and Raffaella must submit to Gennarino in order to survive. But how will the harsh realities of civilization affect their relationship?