The film, articulated in four chapters (''Le scelte'', ''Domenico'', ''Angelo'' and ''L'alba della Nazione''), tells the story of three boys of the Cilento valley: Salvatore, with patriotic spirit, Domenico, who believes in friendship and Angelo, a violent man. In 1828 they chose to participate in Giuseppe Mazzini's Republican political movement of "Giovine Italia". Their lives, following this decision, will take different paths, tracing some episodes of the history of the Italian Resurgence.