Infelici e contenti

Aldo is injured in a car crash and becomes a wheelchair user, ending his previous life as a bank employee and water polo champion. The accident shocks his family and marks a dramatic, ongoing adjustment to disability. This event is the catalyst for the rest of the story.

When Alessandra leaves for August holidays, she sends their dog Peppino to kennels and leaves Aldo behind in the house. The separation foreshadows strain in their marriage and sets Aldo up for new companionships. The setup triggers his move into the nursing home later.

Aldo is admitted to a nursing home run by nuns while Alessandra is away. There he shares a room with Vittorio, a blind man involved in counterfeit goods, and with Sister Teresa, the Spanish nurse. The trio binds together amid unfolding adventures that define the journey ahead.

Vittorio and Sister Teresa become regular roommates at the nursing home, and Vittorio’s counterfeit trade continues behind the scenes. The uneasy dynamic hints at the moral ambiguity that will influence the later events. The setting expands with new, morally grey relationships.

On a trip to Sanremo, Aldo, Vittorio, and Sister Teresa pursue the sale of counterfeit watches. They’re joined by two young thieves, Ornella and Sara, who complicate the group’s plans. The journey veers into a sequence of misadventures.

During a visit to Aldo’s sister, Vittorio has a fling with Valeria, adding romantic tension to the already tangled loyalties. The incident strains the interactions between the leads and those around them. It underscores how desire can disrupt fragile arrangements.

Vittorio owes money to dangerous men, and the group narrowly escapes their pursuers. The chase heightens the sense of danger around their counterfeit enterprise. This moment reinforces the fragile trust among the trio.

In a casino, they meet Petrelli, the engineer who hit Aldo with his car three years earlier. Petrelli lends Aldo a million in casino chips, promising a future favor. The encounter sets the stage for the later invitation to stay at Petrelli’s villa.

After accumulating winnings, Aldo returns the casino chips to Petrelli to cash in on the promised favor of staying at the villa. The plan signals a shift toward domestic stability and a new power dynamic. This moment tightens the bond and bets between the characters.

That night, Alessandra’s presence at Petrelli’s villa is revealed, and she has decided to leave Aldo to start a relationship with Petrelli. Vittorio senses trouble but withholds the truth for now. The revelation accelerates the drama and reshapes everyone’s loyalties.

Vittorio sneaks onto Petrelli’s yacht and attacks him with his stick, following the discovery of Alessandra’s intentions. The assault is brutal and decisive, pushing the characters toward a new balance. Petrelli’s life is altered, adding another layer of consequence to the plot.

Back home, Alessandra returns to pick up Aldo, and the TV news reveals Petrelli has become wheelchair-bound as a result of Vittorio’s attack. The news confirms the shock of the night and redefines the power dynamics among the friends. Vittorio’s actions seem to guarantee Alessandra’s stay with Aldo.

Vittorio disappears after achieving his goal of keeping Aldo’s wife by his side, effectively dissolving from the story. Aldo remains with Alessandra, whose loyalty has shifted due to the events. The film ends on a note of uneasy equilibrium as the future hangs in the balance.