Silvio (Alberto Sordi), a leftist resistance fighter-turned-journalist, tries to cling to his political convictions while it becomes increasingly difficult to provide for his family. His wife, Elena (Lea Massari), supports his idealism less and less and reproaches him for not wanting to take advantage of the Italian post-war economic miracle. When she leaves him, Silvio tries to win her back by agreeing to a compromise with a rich industrialist.
