Plot

A love story between a poor fellow and a daughter of respected workshop owner set in an Italian post-war village.

The story concerns the romance between Carmela and Antonio. The ardor is one-sided at first, but Carmela is a determined young woman, willing to scale and conquer any obstacle in pursuing her heart's desire. Once he's "hooked," Antonio scurries from job to job to prove his financial viability. Faced with their parents' hostility, Carmela and Antonio symbolically shed themselves of all responsibilities to others in a climactic act of stark-naked bravado.