Synopsis

Augusto, Carlo and Roberto are scam artists who often work together, middle-age divorced Augusto the spiritual leader of the three in being the oldest and most seasoned in the business. They either are immune to the notion that most of their victims are not wealthy - most uneducated, rural peasants - or don't care, in each of their scams netting them in total at most a few hundred thousand lira at a time. Each of the three is at a different stage of his life which makes Carlo and Augusto examine what they're doing more critically, each stemming from a specific incident. Roberto, the youngest, still lives solely for the here and now and will take whatever money willingly in supporting that notion. Carlo would like to make a living as an artist, hence his nickname of Picasso, if only it would support him, his loyal wife Iris, and their adolescent daughter Silvania. While Carlo has told Iris that his frequent absences is in his work as a traveling salesman with Augusto, Iris can no longer bury her head in the sand about what Carlo is doing upon a last minute social evening out with Carlo's associates on New Year's Eve. And Augusto's examination of his life begins upon a chance encounter with his young adult daughter, Patrizia, who he had not seen in years and who he did not even recognize on that encounter. Augusto is torn between what his money can afford in getting Patrizia on her feet as she contemplates extending her expensive education, versus being a role model to her.

Augusto, Carlo and Roberto are scam artists who often work together, middle-age divorced Augusto the spiritual leader of the three in being the oldest and most seasoned in the business. They either are immune to the notion that most of their victims are not wealthy - most uneducated, rural peasants - or don't care, in each of their scams netting them in total at most a few hundred thousand lira at a time. Each of the three is at a different stage of his life which makes Carlo and Augusto examine what they're doing more critically, each stemming from a specific incident. Roberto, the youngest, still lives solely for the here and now and will take whatever money willingly in supporting that notion. Carlo would like to make a living as an artist, hence his nickname of Picasso, if only it would support him, his loyal wife Iris, and their adolescent daughter Silvania. While Carlo has told Iris that his frequent absences is in his work as a traveling salesman with Augusto, Iris can no longer bury her head in the sand about what Carlo is doing upon a last minute social evening out with Carlo's associates on New Year's Eve. And Augusto's examination of his life begins upon a chance encounter with his young adult daughter, Patrizia, who he had not seen in years and who he did not even recognize on that encounter. Augusto is torn between what his money can afford in getting Patrizia on her feet as she contemplates extending her expensive education, versus being a role model to her.