Gabriele returns home in southern Italy to bid farewell to his father Ernesto, a former stationmaster in a small town not far from Bari. The old man reawakens in Gabriele memories of his childhood, of his loving mother, his uncle, his friends... but also of his father's rage and bitterness over his failure in achieving his artistic ambitions: Ernesto was convinced he was destined to be a famous painter, and was willing to sacrifice everything for this belief, even his own dignity – and this made his son swear that he wouldn't turn out like him. Only now, many years later, through chance and circumstances, Gabriele begins to understand Ernesto and to see what sort of person his father really was.

Tras la muerte de su padre, Gabriele Rossetti vuelve a Puglia. Su casa natal le recuerda su infancia, en los años 60, cuando tenía que sufrir los cambios de humor de su padre, un jefe de estación que soñaba con ser pintor. Recuerda también la severidad de su madre, profesora de literatura, y la alegría de su joven tío Pinuccio. El día del entierro, Gabriele descubre algo que cambia profundamente su opinión sobre su padre.

È la storia autobiografica di un capostazione, interpretato da Rubini che fa il pittore, ma resta dilettante, perché i suoi concittadini ne mortificano le aspirazioni artistiche, per invidia e per la difesa di casta.