A pair of twins, Anna and Tony, leave their country to go to Rome to make their fortune. Anna knows how to sing and Tony knows how to dance. They suffer many setbacks, but they are willing to go the distance in order to succeed.

In the fascist Italy of 1935, a painter trained as a doctor is exiled to a remote region near Eboli. Over time, he learns to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of the peasants, and to overcome his isolation.