Gilberto Rovai, a physical education teacher at a school in Pistoia, plans a surprise birthday party for his wife, Betty, Elisabetta Rocchetti. But as she’s about to enter the house, a phone call reveals she is having an affair. The news shatters the couple, they divorce, and Gilberto moves in with his stuttering brother Cateno Rovai, a swimming enthusiast who works as a janitor at the same school, Giorgio Panariello.
One year later, Paolina, a student of Gilberto’s, becomes infatuated with him, a development that unsettles the school’s social balance. Paolina is portrayed by Giulia Elettra Gorietti, and her feelings set off a cascade of misunderstandings and moral questions about love, age, and desire. The school principal fears a scandal and tries to transfer Gilberto to Borgo a Buggiano, intensifying the pressure on everyone involved.
Following a push from Anselmi, a colleague, Gilberto attends a swingers party and ends up unexpectedly paired with his ex-wife. He leaves the party disillusioned and instead forms a connection with Margherita, Marjo Berasategui, a woman who will become central to the unfolding drama. Margherita is not just a love interest; she is the mother of Paolina, a revelation that reframes the relationships Gilberto thought he understood and injects a surprising emotional weight into the comedy.
What complicates matters further is the existence of Frate Massimo, Massimo Ceccherini, Paolina’s father, who is unaware that his daughter exists. The revelation of Paolina’s parentage creates a tense moment when Gilberto hopes Margherita will tell Paolina the truth, but she hesitates. When the truth finally comes to light, Paolina reacts with anger, attacking Gilberto’s car before she is gently comforted by him. The principal, seeing this vulnerable moment, interprets it as a romantic connection and forces Gilberto to move to Borgo a Buggiano, complicating everyone’s sense of home and belonging.
Months pass, and Margherita visits Gilberto, while Cateno has sent her the very love letters Gilberto had written but never sent. This act reveals the persistence of his feelings and the complexity of loyalty and honesty within the group. In the meantime, Paolina discovers love with the son of the school’s psychologist, a development that hints at new beginnings for both her and the people around them.
Throughout the narrative, the film blends gentle humor with sincere, sometimes painful, emotional moments. It examines how a single incident—an affair, a divorce, and a series of year-long misunderstandings—can ripple through a community, reshaping friendships, family ties, and the boundaries of affection. The ensemble cast supports a story that is at once lighthearted and contemplative, showing how love can be messy, surprising, and ultimately transformative for everyone involved.
