After many years in prison, Luca Sabatini returns to his home village in Abruzzo in 1946. At the same time, party official Andrea Cipriani, who had to leave Italy during the war but is now welcomed back as a hero, also arrives. Andrea is the son of Luca's best friend. Luca's conviction was the first traumatic experience of his life. He is therefore determined to solve the mystery of why Luca did not defend himself at all during his trial, despite his innocence.