1942 in Alexandria. The Allies' Middle-East Headquarters commands four Greeks to sabotage a German base on a Greek island of the Aegean in order to cut off Romel's supply chain between Europe and North Africa. Second lieutenant Apostolou and Sergeant Kamenidis make a parachute fall on the island, while Lieutenant Patsis and Sergeant Petropoulos arrive by submarine. They collaborate with members of the local resistance group in their effort to execute their mission, while a great love is born between Patsis and a young freedom fighter.

A tough sailor, Fotis, returns to Greece to marry his beloved and to settle certain inheritance issues with his twin brother Fifis, who is an effeminate artist. Their striking resemblance will upset the lives of both of them equally.

It is 1882, and while negotiations for the cession of Thessaly to Greece are underway, the bandit Stelios Karanasos and his men, taking advantage of the Ottomans' indifference to the region, plunder and terrorize the mountain villages. When his gang robs and burns down the house of the Zorba brothers, they kidnap Karanasos' sister, Krini, and demand a ransom for her release. During the three days she remained with them, Dimitros, the youngest of the four brothers, fell deeply in love with her. The feeling is mutual. After her release, Dimitros tries to visit her secretly at her home, but Karanasos captures him. His brothers then attack the house to free him and, during the clash, Karanasos is killed. Dimitrios and Krinio are now free to enjoy their union and live happily ever after.