Pasqualino is one of the children of a very poor but honest Napolitan family; the boy works as a mechanic. Driven by his parents, Pasqualino tries to make his way as a singer, but is exploited by unscrupulous people. With the support of a mob boss, Pasqualino will be able to break into the entertainment world, but the death of his mother, during one of his television performances, will open his eyes to the world around him.