November, 1917: when Austrian forces advance into Northern Italy, the aristocratic Spada family find their estate requisitioned by enemy soldiers. A cruel act of violence against a group of local village girls sparks their desire for revenge. The whole family-from the eccentric grandparents to the secretive servants-have their own ideas about how to fight the enemy, but their courage is soon put to the test and it seems that some are willing to compromise. 17-year-old Paolo Spada, the youngest member of the family, is forced to bear witness as his once proud family succumbs to acts of love and hate, jealousy, and betrayal.
