Elena, a Sicilian mother of three, is murdered by her husband. Her cousin, Roberto decides to take the three orphans into custody. Together with his wife, Anna, he takes charge of the maintenance of the three nephews, who join the other two children of the couple. The adaptation of the three children to the new reality is complex and conflicting. The backlash on the family budget is heavy. Roberto and his wife make do to ensure that the children are supported, trying not to let them know how their mother died.

A foreign writer is in Sicily and believes that careful observation is enough to understand Sicilian culture and Sicilians. However, through his stories, he learns that you cannot know or understand Sicily or Sicilians through mere observation. You have to stand beside its people, shoulder to shoulder (Spalla a Spadda), share their struggles and their victories. Only then can you begin to understand