Martino is secretary of a town hall in a small village in Tuscany whose political majority is communist;
When Mussolini, having come to power, promulgated laws against anti-fascists,
the factions of the Black Shirts spread into the towns and villages to try manganello and castor oil on all political opponents.

With his young wife and young child, Martino chose exile in France.

He will work in the forest as a charcoal burner then work in the Haut Var to provide for his family's needs. But Times are uncertain and History is catching up with them.

– And the owl, messenger of Destiny, accompanies them in their life as exiles from fascist Italy to France of the Popular Front then to the gates of war.