Renato Paioli

In a small town in southern Italy lives the Di Gennaro family. Gennaro, the householder, is a noted dentist, married to Anna, a housewife, a few years away from converting to Buddhism. They have two sons: Roberto, last year medical student and guitarist in a small band, and Mattia who attended the first year of high school. The Di Gennaros appear to be a perfect family, but each character hides flaws and excesses.

The blossoming young love between two teenagers is brutally disrupted by retreating Nazi soldiers who occupy their small village in rural Italy.