In 1983 Milan, Nello, Claudio Bisio a trade unionist who has written a book about the market, is severely attacked by his comrades and is transferred to Cooperative 180, one of the many workshops that emerged after Law 180 to accommodate patients discharged from mental hospitals. After an initial clash with the residents, Nello decides to show them the cooperative’s true spirit by giving everyone a meaningful role and a voice in how things run.
Listening to the ideas of all, the assembly votes to shift from traditional care work to market work, with the patients taking on roles as parquet installers. Each person is assigned a task that suits their temperament, and the group starts small. Their first project, born of inexperience, nearly flops, but they don’t give up. Soon they land a contract with a high-fashion atelier, a turning point that proves the value of their approach. When the deadline nears, the wood supply runs dry, so Luca, Giovanni Calcagno and Gigio, Andrea Bosca, pool their artistic talents to craft a large panel depicting a star that covers the entire floor. The bold, creative solution earns widespread praise, and the cooperative’s workload multiplies.
Behind the scenes, Nello recognizes the need to reduce the medication given to the patients, but Dr. Del Vecchio Giorgio Colangeli resists the idea. Nello turns to Dr. Furlan Giuseppe Battiston and, with European Union funds, the cooperative moves to a new location, aiming higher than before. Just as momentum builds, tragedy strikes: Gigio falls for Caterina, a girl he worked for, who invites him and Luca to a party at her home. That night, Caterina’s friends mock them, and Luca’s temper flares into a scuffle. At the police station, Caterina dismisses them, downplaying the kiss that Gigio shared with her, and the incident leaves Gigio vulnerable. In the aftermath, Gigio takes his own life, a consequence that some blame on the drastic drug reductions.
With Gigio gone, the group is pulled back to the old site under Del Vecchio’s supervision. Nello grapples with the fear of prison, yet no charges are brought: Del Vecchio admits he has witnessed remarkable improvements due to the cooperative’s work. The tragedy is attributed in part to the pressures around them and to Del Vecchio’s initial reluctance to collaborate, but the matter closes and Nello, after a moment of hesitation, resumes directing the cooperative. The team soon wins a major contract in Paris to decorate stops on the city’s new underground line, a milestone that signals a brighter future.
Six months later, Nello manages the group with a steadier hand, keeping his partner Sara, played by Anita Caprioli, close despite a few quarrels over fault lines in their relationship. Dr. Furlan continues to bring in new partners with disabilities, expanding the cooperative’s mission and proving that the model can sustain growth while staying true to its inclusive roots.
