It's a chronicle of post-WWII "miracolo economico" Italy using as a protagonist the fictional character of Bruno Santini (played by Frenchman Sami Frey), whose passionate ideals of Justice and Equality are put to test when he faces the tasks of adulthood, such as getting a job at an industry in Florence and facing working conditions. He also disputes the attention of beautiful Lori (Catherine Deneuve) with his best friend, strict Marxist Milo (Enrico Maria Salerno).