The story begins in 1860. A young Venetian, contrary to the will of his parents, marries a girl; and with her escapes abroad. After some time he died in an accident. Maddalena, the widow, shows up in the house of her husband’s parents according to his last wishes. He generously welcomed by his father, he finds an invincible aversion in his mother, who wants to jealously keep for herself the memory and pain of the deceased son. The girl manages to vivify the family environment and, after a few years, she is tempted by the sincere affection that for her a young painter demonstrates. Magdalene is torn between the desire to rebuild a life and the duty of gratitude that he has towards his in-laws. But it is the mother of the deceased then, who convinces her to follow the new path that opens up, because in this way she thinks she can finally get back everything for herself the memory and the pain for her son. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Watch La vedova/ The Widow (1939) Italian Film
No English subtitle
