Once there was the port of London, and the East End next to it. Once there was a film, Lorenza Mazzetti’s Together, in which the port is still active. And there is a river the director and Mazzetti herself talk about as they travel to the past and the present, among maps, films and photographs.

Inspired by the work of Italian underground comic book prodigy Andrea Pazienza, Paz! is a 24-hour slice of life of a bunch of students living in a flat in Bologna during the 70's, divided between marjuana, university, girls and political activism.

Having recently earned his college degree, Lorenzo Primavera (Eddie Malavarca) leaves his home in Boston to travel to his family's ancestral homeland in Italy -- as was requested by his late grandfather. Upon arriving, Lorenzo is offered a short-term position as coach for an American-style football team by the team's manager, Giulio Fellini (Maurizio Nichetti). As the young American immerses himself in his new duties, he makes the acquaintance of Paola Angelini (Violante Placido) and the two begin a friendship that quickly blossoms into something more. In between spending time with Paola and working with the team, Lorenzo also begins investigating his own family's history and learns the reason for his grandfather's departure from Italy, as well as why his grandfather never returned to visit. As Lorenzo begins to forge an identity for himself in Italy -- not to mention strong romantic attachments to Paola -- he must eventually decide whether or not to return to the States.