The film tells the story of the Michelucci family, from the 1970s to the present day: the central character is the stunningly beautiful Anna, the lively, frivolous and sometimes embarrassing mother of Bruno and Valeria.

Anna is unexpectedly crowned "Most Beautiful Mother", unwittingly stirring the violent jealousy of her husband, a Non-commissioned officer of Carabinieri.

4 Silver Ribbon, Director of the best film Paolo Virzì, Best screenplay, Best Actress Stefania Sandrelli and Micaela Ramazzotti, Best Costume Gabriella Pescucci.

[3] It was selected as the Italian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards,[4] but it didn't make the final shortlist.

[5] In July 2010, La prima cosa bella (The first beautiful Thing) won four Silver Ribbon awards: Director of the Best Film of the Year (Paolo Virzi), Best Actress Micaela Ramazzotti and Stefania Sandrelli, Best Screenplay Paolo Virzi, Francesco Bruni, Francesco Piccolo) and Best Costume Design to the Oscar winner Gabriella Pescucci.