A strict, restrained, and intimate epic. A drama about a family experiencing the final days of World War II in an Italian village. Ironically, when the world finally finds peace, the course of their lives is disrupted by the arrival of a runaway soldier escaping from the war. He stays with the family of a local teacher and falls in love with the teacher's eldest daughter. Remarkably, the couple's feelings impact the lives of every resident of this small mountain community.
Four Golden Lions at the Venice Film Festival, including a special jury prize.