From Italy, a group of boys arrives in the Netherlands to work for a local mining company, seeking a better life far from home. Among them is Vincenzo, Bernard Fresson, who quickly catches the eye of his mentor, Federico, Lino Ventura, an experienced miner who takes Vincenzo under his wing. On their very first day at the mines, tragedy strikes: a devastating accident buries the miners, leaving them trapped underground for several days. The rescue is tense and draining, and the ordeal marks the start of a complex bond between Vincenzo and Federico, setting the stage for what comes next.
When they finally emerge, Vincenzo is eager to resume his work, but Federico persuades him to join one last night of lighthearted fun—a bar crawl that leads them into a neon-lit world of windows presenting themselves as prostitutes. In this red-light district, Vincenzo encounters Else, a young woman who captures his interest, while Chanel, an old flame of Federico, is among the other sights they encounter. Chanel is played by Magali Noël, Magali Noël, and Else is portrayed by Marina Vlady, Marina Vlady . The atmosphere is charged with desire and memory, and the night is a prelude to choices that will ripple through their lives. Vincenzo’s attention also lands on Chanel’s companion, the night’s exploits weaving through a tangled set of loyalties and pasts.
During the night, Francesco—who is quite drunk—talks Chanel into taking a trip with him, hoping to spend time with her by the sea. Vincenzo, meanwhile, spends the night with Else after paying her for her company, a choice that глубокens the emotional stakes for him. He wakes up too late to catch his train back to Italy, and, moved by what he has begun to feel for Else, he convinces her to follow Federico and Chanel to the Sea, a decision that will push their relationships toward a new horizon.
At the seaside, tensions surface. A heated argument erupts between Vincenzo and Federico after Federico’s own boat trip with Else becomes a source of jealousy for Vincenzo. The conflict exposes competing loyalties and desires, yet it ultimately gives way to a surprising development: the two men reach a deeper understanding, and Else and Vincenzo’s bond deepens into love. Vincenzo decides to stay and continue his work at the mines, envisioning a future with Else and the life he has found there in a new land.
Back at the mines, the friendship between Vincenzo and Federico is renewed, stronger for all they have endured. Vincenzo shares his plans to marry Else, and Federico weighs his own future. In a moment of shared humor and hope, Federico suggests that he will marry Chanel too, and the two couples imagine a double wedding ceremony that would seal their intertwined fates. The story closes on a note of tentative happiness and mutual futures, with the men reconciled, and the path forward shaped by love, work, and loyalty under the same mining sky.
