Brando is an 11-year-old boy whose family has just moved to a new home in Rome. His parents, both university professors, are estranged and Brando is exploited by both parents as they are involved in quarrels and recriminations with each other. His mother, Flora, suffers from depression. Michele, his father, is immature and absent. The situation becomes more complicated when Michele begins dating Lisetta, a girl he has known for years. Brando is asked to be complicit (to accept and manage that betrayal), which makes him very uncomfortable. When Michele finally leaves the house, Flora attempts suicide and never recovers from her psychosis. Brando then begins his most difficult period. In the past he was sent to his paternal grandmother who, despite her enormous affection for Brando, is no longer able to take care of him. Eventually, Brando is declared legally abandoned and is given to a family house (an orphanage). Michele accepts the court's decision. His reasons being that firstly, he...