Guido, a Milanese who has relocated to Naples, is a somewhat romantic teacher of Italian literature. When his wife leaves him for a young Belgian, Guido becomes depressed and it seems his life has gone to pieces. Not even the support of his parents Giovanni and Carla and his friend Paolo, a physical education teacher, can lift his morale. Everything changes when Guido meets his new neighbor, an extremely attractive young woman named Silvia. Guido immediately falls wildly in love with her, as she embodies all the qualities he wants in a woman. Happily, she falls in love with him as well, and for a time everything seems perfect for him.