Gabriele returns home in southern Italy to bid farewell to his father Ernesto, a former stationmaster in a small town not far from Bari. The old man reawakens in Gabriele memories of his childhood, of his loving mother, his uncle, his friends... but also of his father's rage and bitterness over his failure in achieving his artistic ambitions: Ernesto was convinced he was destined to be a famous painter, and was willing to sacrifice everything for this belief, even his own dignity – and this made his son swear that he wouldn't turn out like him. Only now, many years later, through chance and circumstances, Gabriele begins to understand Ernesto and to see what sort of person his father really was.
The story takes place in an unspecified town in Apulia. We are in the '70s. The arrival of three beautiful and uninhibited girls from the North, the daughters of an engineer who has moved to run a factory, brings the turmoil amongst the young people of the town. Stories of love, betrayals, state money (stolen) and broken promises intertwine. All through the eyes of Carlo (alter ego of the director Sergio Rubini), the youngest.
Ottone, a professional dog sitter who's uncertain about most things in life, asks an analyst if he made the right decision love-wise while recounting the significant relationships he had with four women.
Four thirtysomething university students share a flat in Florence: Leonardo pursues beautiful Letizia, her brother Rocco works night shifts to pay for his rent, Bruno has to graduate to inherit his father-in-law's business (while cheating on his wife with her sister), and Pino dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian.
Carmelo and Maria have a baby girl. He wants a boy but another pregnancy would risk Maria's health. Eventually, Carmelo leaves Maria and she attempts to win him back.
