Rome, Paris and Helsinki right after the Madrid bombings. Three stories about people who, for different reasons, are afraid of others – the eponymous "thy neighbor." A humanity full of differences, but at the same time, with very similar feelings. So similar that their stories appear almost parallel and complementary.

The story of Jessica, a 17-year-old girl who lives in a strange world, a place that could be our world in the near future, perhaps, or in an alternate dimension. The point being that, whatever the nature of her world may be, Jessica's problems are the very same as they are in our world. Above all, the fear of a scary future haunts Jessica and seems to worry everybody around her as well, with the only escape appearing to be "like the other people". But Jessica's different: she has a dream and she has talent, yet her world rejects those who try to change the world and better their lives. All the isolation and bullying will have an unexpected impact on the situation, until a very shocking turning point of the story. All the way up to a shocking denouement.

Naples, 1959. Pure Mathematics professor Renato Caccioppoli, Bakunin's grandson, is a tortured soul. Recently discharged from the psychiatric hospital, left by his wife, and increasingly disillusioned with academia and the Communist Party, he lives his last days with painful detachment.

When her elderly mother is found dead under sordid circumstances, Delia returns to her native Naples for the first time in years to attend the funeral. Trying to piece together her estranged parent's secret life, she'll face the hidden memories that shaped her family history.

A camorrista follows a surreal path.

A celebrated painter receives a visit from a cardinal's assistant, who informs him that his mother could become a saint.

Although this sounds like a weekend like many others, in the Prior house the atmosphere is rather tense because of some nervousness on the part of individual members of the family, especially the father, Peppino, who gets angry with anyone who happens to shoot: with their children, Juliana and Roberto, and his sister, aunt Meme. Meanwhile, his wife Rosa is dedicated to the preparation of the sauce, which she will serve for Sunday's lunch, to which she invited the neighbors, the accountant Ianniello and his wife.

A wealthy dentist who spends the weekend wargaming with friends provokes a dangerous reaction from his wife, who slips a real gun among the fake ones. An old couple turns to child kidnapping to cover their gambling debts. A young librarian saves the mother of the kidnapped children and confesses her long-standing love for her, expressed through anonymous letters that sustained each other's lives. A college professor who captivates his students with lectures on what is truly important in life finds himself as usual lonely and forgotten on his birthday. A mosaic of souls searching for the meaning of life.

Mario Martone signs direction and scenes of this new film-work of Verdi's masterpiece. On the podium of the Orchestra of the Teatro dell'opera in Rome its musical director, maestro Daniele Gatti. the new set-up of the opera to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave is embellished with costumes by Anna Biagiotti and photography by Pasquale Mari.