Ornella Muti plays a Kept Woman whose keeper has the bad taste to die. Silvana (Muti) attaches herself to another wealthy "patron," aging lothario Gabriele (Philippe Noiret). His idea of sexual stimulation is to recall the highlights of his previous affairs, going into orgasmic ecstasies whenever uttering a seemingly non sequitur phrase like "The Sparrow's Fluttering" (which served as the English-language title for this film). Eventually, the relationship becomes shaky when Silvana finds a newer, younger lover (Nicola Farron). Appearing in a key supporting role in Il Frullo Del Passero is Claudine Auger, who 24 years earlier played Sean Connery's leading lady in the James Bond opus Thunderball.