[3] Tommaso Cantone left his hometown in Salento, Southern Italy, because of its narrow-minded inhabitants, and for some time he has resided in Rome with his boyfriend: Marco, in fact, in the big city, he was able to create his own independence and live in the light of the sun his homosexuality.

After a long time, determined to reveal his sexual orientation to his family, he returns to his homeland, where he comes to confront his middle-class parents, and a mentally different society.

In fact, the consequences of that gesture are tragic : Vincenzo kicks Antonio out of the house shortly before having a heart attack ; the whole family feels targeted by the slander and gossip of the town, while Tommaso has the whole responsibility of the pasta factory.

Tommaso also lied about his university career : he has in fact declared that he had enrolled in economics and commerce, while in reality he's close to a degree in literature and his dream is to become a writer.

In this, however, he finds an unexpected ally in Alba Brunetti, daughter of Vincenzo's work partner and brilliant economist, with whom Tommaso establishes an ambiguous friendship.

Only shortly before departure the two manage to clarify the things between them ; once Marco and his friends are gone, Tommaso finally finds the courage to face his parents and declare that the life they have chosen for him is not the one he wants to live.

That same evening, the grandmother puts in place an extreme plan to resolve the situation : despite suffering from diabetes mellitus, she decides to eat a huge amount of sweets that leads her to her death.

During her funeral, past and present come together in an almost dreamlike scene : her grandmother finds her beloved Nicola, her husband's brother and her only true love; Vincenzo and Antonio seem to make peace, while Tommaso watches Marco and Alba dance and, after hinting at a smile, leaves.