At the beginning of the century, in Italy, a wealthy woman Francesca (Loren), adopts a poor little girl named Nunziata. The years pass, Nunziata falls in love Federico (Bova), her adoptive brother, son of Francesca.
Two penniless cousins have a common passion: to be inventors, but they never managed to make money out of their patents. Their only hope is represented by their hateful and rich uncle.
Rosa Funzeca, after twenty years as a prostitute, decides to make a change in her life and to look for an honest job that'll allow her to be reunited with her son Fernando. But things are not easy.
