In the fascist Italy of 1935, a painter trained as a doctor is exiled to a remote region near Eboli. Over time, he learns to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of the peasants, and to overcome his isolation.
A mysterious writer is involved in a love affair with his stepson's wife, leading to a web of intrigue and desire.
The life and times of Antonio Gramsci from the establishment of L'Ordine Nuovo newspaper in 1919 to his untimely death in 1937, encompassing the birth of the Italian Communist Party (PCd'I), Gramsci's visits to Moscow where he met his future spouse, his election to Parliament, anti-fascism, trial and conviction.
