InthesleepymountainvillageofPianazzo,wherethemajoroccupationappearstobesmuggling,thepeopleexistinrelativepeacedespitetheirpoverty.It`sa"littleworld"presidedoverbyaparishpriest,DonCandido,andaMayorwhoisalsothetownbarber.Thenayoungschoolteacher,acommunist,roarsintotownonhermotorbikeandshakesthingsupwithherpoliticaltalk.Gian,oneoftheyoungsmugglers,issmittenwiththenewcomer,buthefindshemustleavetownonaccountofaconflictthathasarisenbetweenthelocalsandotherswhowanttobuildadykeinthearea.