Squarciò, a fisherman, lives with his family on a small island off the Dalmatian coast of Italy. Like his fellow villagers, Squarciò struggles against harsh living conditions, a scarcity of fish in nearby waters and exploitation by the local wholesaler. But while the other fishermen continue to use nets, he goes out to the open sea to fish illegally with bombs. But Squarciò borrows money, loses his boat, and in a moment of supreme desperation, has to bomb directly off-shore, causing the hatred and rejection of his fellow fishermen. Trying to save his family, Squarciò and his young sons sail their new boat out beyond the local waters and bomb-fish again. But this time, the sea exacts a terrible toll…

Nannina is in love with Vincenzo who is poor and goes to Belgium to make his fortune. Nannina marries a rich elderly man. Vincenzo returns from Belgium and the passion flames up again. Nannina loses her head and wants to kill her husband; however, she is killed by an idiot servant whom she had always rejected.