A determined mother struggles to raise her adopted son with love and understanding as the disapproving eyes of her boyfriend and mother weigh heavily on her conscience in this drama from director Antonio Capuano. Mario (Marco Grieco) is a rebellious youngster who has been taken from his abusive mother and placed in the care of Giulia (Valeria Golino) and Sandro (Andrea Renzi). Though the maternal Giulia has vowed to treat her young charge as her own blood and lovingly accepts all of the challenges generally associated with foster parenting, her partner, Sandro, is resentful of the young Mario and views his foster child's presence as little more than an unwelcome disruption. Defying the vocal objections of her outspoken mother, Giulia holds steadfast to her pledge of giving the troubled working-class misfit a stable childhood in her comfortable, middle-class home.