Semi-autobiographical film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, telling the story of young Italian boy Luca, the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman. The boy's mother has died, and he is raised by a group of English and American women living in Florence in pre-WWII Fascist Italy. The women live a sheltered existence which they believe is guaranteed personal protection in a tea reception given by Il Duce. However, as war breaks out, the women are interned.