In post-war Rome, two young orphans, Giuseppe and Pasquale, live on the streets working as shoeshiners. Hoping for a better future, the two friends cling to their friendship and the spirit of survival that characterizes the children in their environment. Their day-to-day life reflects a devastated Italy, marked by poverty, hunger, and disillusionment. Through their struggle to earn coins, they encounter a group of adults who manipulate and use them for their own ends, creating a scenario where childhood innocence brutally confronts the harshness of the real world.
One day, Giuseppe and Pasquale have the chance to earn a considerable amount of money in a contest that could change their lives. However, life has cruel surprises and difficult decisions in store for them that will test their loyalty and love for each other. The tension escalates as the teenagers find themselves caught in a web of corruption and exploitation that challenges everything they believe about friendship and trust.
With visceral direction and heart-wrenching performances, this story is an emotional journey that highlights the fragility of innocence in an indifferent world. As the boys' fate intertwines with the brutal reality of their surroundings, the cost of survival in a world that seems to have no place for dreams is brought into question.