The Last Paradiso

In a 1950s southern Italian town, Ciccio Paradiso steps up to help local olive farmers resist the abuses of mayor Cumpà Schettino. He rallies tenants and workers against exploitation, setting the stage for a clash of power in the community. The confrontations establish Ciccio as a key figure in the local struggle.

Ciccio, though married to Lucia, begins a passionate affair with Bianca Schettino, with Bianca's sister Maria assisting them. The romance deepens despite family and social pressures, spreading tension through both households. This affair foreshadows the violent fallout to come.

After a frank discussion, Lucia and Ciccio agree to divorce amicably. Ciccio then seeks Cumpà Schettino's permission to marry Bianca, aiming to legitimize his relationship. The plan intensifies the feud between Ciccio and the Schettinos.

Cosimo, Cumpà's right-hand man, surveils Ciccio and Bianca on a date and reports back to Cumpà. The dangerous information escalates the tension between Ciccio and the Schettino family. The revelation sets the stage for a brutal confrontation.

Cumpà confronts Bianca for lying about the affair, provoking a dramatic moment where Bianca strips naked in front of him and berates him for raping a teenage worker on his olive farm. The confrontation exposes the abuse and shifts public opinion against Cumpà. The scene underscores the brutality behind the town's power structure.

Cumpà invites Ciccio to the Schettino residence and bludgeons him to death with a shovel. He then cuts off Ciccio's penis and sends the corpse into town on a horse. The murder marks a violent turning point that consolidates Cumpà's grip on the community.

Antonio Paradiso, Ciccio's estranged brother, returns from Trieste after 20 years to attend his brother's funeral. The family and town mourn, while longstanding tensions surface through his arrival. The scene connects the two generations in the Paradiso family.

Vincenzo, Ciccio's father, tells Antonio to leave and hints that Ciccio died for standing up to Cumpà. Bianca is locked away, but she later sneaks out to watch Ciccio's funeral amid the upheaval. The revelation deepens the tragedy and personal costs of the town's power struggles.

An unknown assailant kills Cumpà Schettino and his ally Cosimo at the Schettino barn. The murder roils the town and signals a breaking point in the Schettino's oppression. The community begins to turn against the oppressive family regime.

With the Schettino oppression weakened, the townspeople ostracize Bianca and Maria and withdraw their labor from the Schettinos' olive farm. The community's action demonstrates collective judgment against the abusive patriarchs. Bianca and Maria face economic hardship as a result.

Back in Trieste, Antonio is unsettled by Ciccio's death and writes letters to Bianca. He breaks up with his girlfriend and ultimately relocates to his hometown to rebuild his life. The distance highlights the enduring pull of the past.

Antonio visits the Schettinos and then learns from Vincenzo that Maria is his daughter, a result of Vincenzo's affair with Cesarina. Cesarina had died by suicide after escaping domestic abuse, and this revelation reshapes family loyalties. Antonio and Bianca's bond grows amid these revelations.

Bianca reads a letter from Antonio professing his love and discovers he has shaved his moustache to resemble Ciccio. The moment rekindles hope for the couple's future. She agrees to meet and potentially marry him.

Antonio proposes to Bianca on the town square and she accepts. The townspeople, including the Paradisos, applaud and lead the couple to the church for their wedding. The finale signals a watershed moment of communal solidarity against oppression.