The film unfolds in Florence during the Black Death, where ten young Florentines seek refuge from the plague. Instead of telling stories as in the Decameron, they embark on lusty adventures, bold romance, and swordplay, underscored by moments of risqué humor, randy nuns, Saracen pirates, and even a cheeky cow.
Lorenzo, Hayden Christensen is a sharp-eyed young gambler who catches the eye of Pampinea, Mischa Barton the daughter of a wealthy merchant who has just lost her father. Pampinea’s fortunes are suddenly at risk when Gerbino De Ratta, Tim Roth the head of the local thieves, claims that her father was in debt and robs her of her inheritance. The only way for Pampinea to save her life, according to Gerbino, is to marry him.
Lorenzo, pursued after besting Gerbino at a gambling table, seeks refuge by concealing himself in a convent as a deaf-and-dumb gardener. There, he encounters the convent’s nuns in a scene that becomes a turning point for his fate and for Pampinea’s feelings. Pampinea, desperate to escape Gerbino’s control, arrives seeking shelter and discovers Lorenzo with the women she once hoped to avoid. She blindfolds him and kisses him in a moment of passionate certainty, then betrays him by informing the abbess that the man she loves is not what he seems.
Count Dzerzhinsky, Matthew Rhys from Novgorod arrives in Florence with his entourage, only to be ambushed by Gerbino’s men as he nears Pampinea’s betrothal. He survives the assault, and a message from Pampinea’s servant sends him racing toward the mansion for a wedding that would seal his own fate, though he soon crosses paths with Elissa. Elissa—Pampinea’s best friend—appears in a revealing scene and, in a twist of mistaken identity, the Count falls in love with her, believing she is Pampinea.
Elissa, Kate Groombridge plays a pivotal role as a charming, free-spirited presence who becomes the focal point of the Count’s affections and a catalyst for the mansion’s drama. As the wedding approaches, Lorenzo follows Pampinea to her father’s home and confesses that he has fallen for the nun who kissed him in secret, the face of whom remains unseen.
When Gerbino arrives with his men, Lorenzo is imprisoned, and Pampinea agrees to marry Gerbino that very day to save Lorenzo. The young gambler is banished to the woods, where he encounters Count Dzerzhinsky himself, now en route to marry the “Pampinea” who is actually Elissa. The two men join forces to undermine Gerbino’s henchmen, and Gerbino meets his end by falling into a deep well inside the mansion.
Back at the estate, Pampinea’s love for Lorenzo is tested as she refuses to marry the Count, only to discover that Dzerzhinsky’s love is for Elissa, who has been posing as Pampinea. The revelation sets off a cascade of reconciliation and daring, and Pampinea finally chases after Lorenzo, their shared longing reigniting as they celebrate a wedding attended by friends and allies.
In the end, the story intertwines affection, deception, risk, and loyalty against a backdrop of hardship and danger, showing how love can triumph through daring choices and steadfast devotion. The film blends romance, action, and dark humor, weaving together the fates of those who sought refuge from the plague into a shared, unforgettable vow.
