Garage owner Angelo and big-time film producer Alberto find themselves occupying neighbouring beds in a Rome hospital after suffering heart attacks. Alberto is a gregarious joker - and chain smoker - who has a strong effect on the impressionable Angelo. However, as one of the men's condition deteriorates, the other becomes more deeply involved in his personal life.

Giovanni is a criminal lawyer who is successful both at work and with women, despite a happy marriage. One day, however, his life is turned upside down by the sudden intrusion of Sara, a beautiful professional used to conquering men to fight boredom. Seized by an increasingly pressing passion, Giovanni leaves his family but shortly after he is in turn left by Sara, afraid of establishing a stable relationship with him.

Ernesto is doomed to loneliness since the loss of his wife. He is a writer who lives alone without any children, and is an antisocial person. However, he is as satisfied with his life. Although he has not been working for a while, a film director asks him to prepare a scenario on the life of "Teresa of Ávila". Meanwhile, a young peasant girl, Luana starts working with him as a maid. Now the time has come for an affair which he has ignored for some years.

Reports of a weeping Madonna in Italy reach Las Vegas, where blackjack dealer Maggie has just learnt she has only weeks to live. With a massive leap of faith she convinces herself that seeing the Madonna with her own eyes could lead to her salvation, and travels to Europe to find it. Hitching through Italy, she meets pianist Mike, who is also en route to what he believes could be a life-changing event - a performance at the Barbarina concert in Naples.

The Night of San Lorenzo, the night of the shooting stars, is the night when dreams come true in Italian folklore. In 1944, a group of Italians flee their town after hearing rumours that the Nazis plan to blow it up and that the Americans are about to arrive to liberate them.

Michele criticizes the film industry and its inhabitants, and is particularly embattled with a Neapolitan director making a musical about the 1968 student demonstrations. At the same time, Michele has a creative block and struggles to finish his film titled "Freud’s Mother." Nanni Moretti’s self-inquiry into filmmaking, political ennui, and men’s relations with their mothers.