The story of a group of Sicilian miners and their families decide to illegally cross the border to France and their hardships.

After the war, Aldo and his men became gangster. But now the times are changing and Aldo decides to became a policeman to help better his men in crime. He meets Giovanna and falls for her. But he begins liking his new job and after their first robbery, Aldo tries to leave his old accomplices...

A young, by-the-book judge is appointed to a Sicilian village controlled by corrupt leaders and the mafia.