Ferruccio Castronuovo was the only authorized eye, between 1976 and 1986, to film the brilliant Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini (1920-1993) in his personal and creative intimacy, to capture the gears of his great circus, his fantastic lies and his crazy inventions.

Splendor is the name of an old movie theater managed by Jordan (Mastroianni), who inherited it from his father. The theater is in decay and only generates debts and trouble, but Jordan gets aid in his almost quixotian quest from projectionist Luigi (Troisi) and ushurette Chantale (Vlady). However, Jordan is finally forced to sell the Splendor to businessman Lo Fazio (Piperno), which plans to transform it in some kind of furniture store. When Jordan leaves the theater for the last time (the very first scene), he recalls the glorious days of Splendor and movies in general.

Funny events of the clients who spend their summer holidays at the Hotel Internazionale in San Benedetto del Tronto.

"Remove your legs from the windshield" - Alberto, an engineer over forty years old, on his return from an inspection, a nineteen-year-old Parisian student called Sylvie is looking for a ride. Even though the girl reminds him of her daughter Francesca's age, Alberto decides to accompany her to Rome, with the secret hope of being able to derive an adventure from her.