The innkeeper Mirandolina is a beautiful girl, and for her beauty the Count of Albafiorita and the Marquis of Forlimpopoli fall in love.

Rome, 1957. A woman, Cabiria, is robbed and left to drown by her boyfriend, Giorgio. Rescued, she resumes her life and tries her best to find happiness in a cynical world. Even when she thinks her struggles are over and she has found happiness and contentment, things may not be what they seem.