In Italy, Athos Magnani (Giulio Brogi) is the son of an anti-fascist hero who was assassinated three decades earlier. When the dead man's former mistress (Alida Valli) calls him back to his father's hometown, Athos has a number of perplexing, surreal encounters with her and the men who were his father's allies long ago. But were they really allies? As he tries to unravel the mystery of his father's murder, the son is forced to reckon with the nature of compromised ideals.