Lucas, a wealthy, 43 year-old divorced businessman, is irresistibly attracted to Elsa, a 38 year old renowned sculptor from whom he has commissioned a piece to decorate the reception at his office.

In 18th-century Sicily, deaf-mute highborn Marianna Ucrìa is forced to marry at age 13, bearing three children before even turning 16, when she finally gives birth to a boy. Despite everything, she'll find a way to emancipate herself from the oppressive social conventions of the time.

Jean Larivière receives an impromptu visit from his future father-in-law while Lina, his mistress, learning of his marriage, has come to make a scene. The baron is seduced by Lina, and Jean, noticing that Angélique, his fiancée, is not so bad after all, is very happy to marry her.