In 2003 Italy, Professor Attilio de Giovanni, a charming educator deeply passionate about poetry and a dedicated father to two teenage daughters, finds himself utterly captivated by Vittoria, his colleague and fellow writer. Despite his fervent efforts to win her affection, he is met with apparent indifference. Nevertheless, he remains resolute, his mind brimming with romantic fantasies surrounding a future marriage that seems to hinge on the bizarre notion of a tiger crossing the snow.
As fortune takes an unexpected turn, Vittoria embarks on a perilous journey to Iraq, tasked with crafting the biography of Fuad, a close friend and poet returning home after nearly two decades in France. However, fate intervenes during her visit, and she sustains injuries amid the chaos of the Baghdad invasion. In a bold move, Attilio (now masquerading as a Red Cross surgeon) sneaks aboard a flight to Iraq, demonstrating remarkable bravery and wit under extreme circumstances. Upon reaching the Iraqi hospital where she is being treated, Fuad, ever the gracious host, directs him toward an elderly pharmacist who introduces ancient remedies that serve to stabilize Vittoria’s condition, albeit briefly.
As Vittoria's health continues to decline, Attilio acquires not only scuba gear but also a flyswatter, humorously dubbing it the "weapon of mass destruction" sought after by the U.S. military in Iraq. Armed with unconventional tools and quick-thinking strategies, he plays a crucial role in keeping her alive. Undaunted, Attilio then makes his way to an Italian Red Cross camp, acquiring more sophisticated medical supplies that will ultimately help restore Vittoria to health.
In a heartbreaking twist, Attilio's triumphant return home is overshadowed by the tragic news of Fuad's suicide. It becomes apparent that Fuad had long been battling inner demons, unnoticed by Attilio, who had been preoccupied with Vittoria's well-being. Just before Vittoria awakens from her coma, Attilio inadvertently gets apprehended by U.S. forces as an enemy combatant. Fortunately, his freedom is restored, and he returns to Italy, irrevocably changed by his harrowing experience in Iraq.
As the film reaches its crescendo, an astonishing truth surfaces, shaking the very core of the narrative. It becomes evident that Vittoria and Attilio share a complicated history, their relationship once marred by Attilio's reckless tendencies and frequent distractions. The involvement of another woman may have driven them apart, yet despite their tumultuous past, Attilio finds a magnetic pull towards Vittoria once more, visiting her and their children with an unmistakable sense of yearning.
As he prepares to leave the city, a series of events unfold, ignited by a fire at the local circus. This chaos unleashes a plethora of animals onto the streets, including a magnificent tiger that crosses paths with Vittoria as she drives through the descending ash, which uncannily resembles falling snow.
Meanwhile, Attilio keeps his true identity concealed, remaining silent about his connection to the enigmatic stranger who tenderly kissed Vittoria's forehead during her recovery. However, fate begins to weave their destinies together when Vittoria recognizes a striking similarity between the stranger’s affectionate gesture and Attilio’s own intimate mannerisms. This realization is further intensified by the reappearance of Vittoria’s long-lost necklace, which Attilio had kept hidden, now dangling from his neck—a tantalizing clue to their intertwined destinies.
