Happy as Lazzaro

Inviolata, a secluded estate, has remained untouched since 1977, housing 54 farmhands under a relentless sharecropping system. These workers are eternally in debt and receive no pay, laboring tirelessly on a tobacco farm ruled by the harsh Marchioness Alfonsina De Luna.

The Marchioness is notorious for her tyrannical control over the estate, managing the farmhands with an iron fist while gaining immense wealth from their labor. Her son, Tancredi, often scheming, finds amusement in the grim realities surrounding him.

Among the farmhands is Lazzaro, who diligently follows the orders of the Marchioness, her son Tancredi, and the estate manager. Lazzaro's loyalty is unwavering despite the grim conditions at Inviolata.

Tancredi forms a bond with Lazzaro and devises a plan to fake his own kidnapping to extract money from his mother. Together, they escape into the wilderness, crafting a ransom note to elicit her response while deepening their friendship.

During their escapade, Tancredi and Lazzaro mimic a wolf’s howl, attempting to connect with a lone wolf rumored to roam the area. This whimsical bond leads Tancredi to jest about being half-brothers, a notion Lazzaro takes seriously.

Tancredi's mother uncovers the kidnapping plot almost immediately. However, the estate manager’s daughter, misinterpreting the situation, alerts the police during a rare moment of cell service, leading to an unexpected intervention.

Authorities arrive and unveil the shocking truth behind Inviolata's operations, including the illegal sharecropping practices and lack of education for children. This leads to Alfonsina's arrest, marking the beginning of the end for the estate's feudal system.

In the chaos following the police's revelation, Lazzaro tumbles off a cliff, left unconscious in a ravine. A wolf, whether real or symbolic, acknowledges his pure heart, hinting at his vital connection to nature.

When Lazzaro awakens, he discovers that years have passed, but he has not aged. He finds Inviolata abandoned, witnessing robbers pillaging the once-prosperous estate.

Deceived by the robbers claiming that the estate is moving, Lazzaro embarks on a journey to the city. Naive and unaware of urban life, he ventures into a world starkly different from the fields he once toiled in.

In the city, Lazzaro encounters Antonia, who recognizes him from Inviolata. She introduces him to a group of impoverished former residents turned criminals, who share the tale of the Great Swindle, igniting Lazzaro's quest to find Tancredi.

Upon finding Tancredi, Lazzaro is invited to a club that Tancredi now manages. However, their reunion is bittersweet as Lazzaro and the other former workers arrive, only to realize Tancredi has forgotten their meeting.

Feeling abandoned, Lazzaro and his companions seek refuge in a church but face rejection due to the restrictions imposed by a nun. Despite the organ music creating a hauntingly beautiful backdrop, they decide to return to Inviolata.

Lazzaro learns Tancredi has squandered the De Luna fortune and, aiming to help, visits a bank. In an unfortunate misunderstanding, his slingshot appears to be a firearm, causing chaos as he innocently requests the return of the family’s wealth.

As panic erupts in the bank, the patrons realize Lazzaro’s true intent and turn against him. Ultimately, he meets a tragic fate, leaving behind the haunting image of the wolf escaping back into the wild, symbolizing a return to freedom.