The film centers around two teenage brothers, Mario (Roberto Locascio) and Luca (Cristiano Cerioli), struggling to navigate the intricacies of adolescence in a stifling, middle-class Italian family. As they grapple with their own identities, desires, and disillusionments, the brothers find themselves increasingly at odds with their parents and the societal expectations placed upon them. Through a series of intense, often disturbing encounters, Bellocchio masterfully captures the turmoil and exhilaration of adolescence, laying bare the psychological and emotional fragilities of his protagonists.