Italy,latethirties.TheregimeofMussoliniaresentItalianvolunteerstothecivilwarinSpain.Onthebackgroundofapeacefulvillagelandscapes,behindthewallsoftheoldfarmhousesFloriannacreatingitsowndictatorship:everythingisrunbyherbrotherGuido,whorequiresunquestioningobediencetohiswillwww.molikan..Hebelievesallwomenaroundishisproperty,and,asaroosterinthehenhouse,heconstantlyconfirmthisaction.HisyoungsonAlbertoishisproblem-allisnotsimilartothefather.Hedreamsofbreakingfreefromthedictatorialcare.WhenhisbeautifulcousinGloriaestotheestate,novelflashesbetweenyoungpeople.Guidolearnsthathissisterisgoingtobequeathherestatetohisunworthyson.Thisheraldsatragicending