Members of the fascist legion “Dio lo vuole” (God Wills It), Sicilians Michele and Luigi Ventura meet in Malaga and become friends during the course of antirevolutionary engagement from 1936-39. Passing through Guadalajara where they learn the taste of defeat, the fighting takes them toward the conquest of Madrid. Different in spirit, their decisions to enlist are also based on differing reasons. Michele, a miserable sulfur miner, doesn?t want to return to the mines and by fighting hopes to save up enough money to buy a small plot of land to farm without having to kiss anyone?s feet ever again. Luigi, on file after three illegal emigration attempts, prattles on like a red, but in reality his only aspiration is to find a way to reach his family in America. During the course of the war Michele opens his eyes to the fratricidal conflict?s horrors and somewhat recuperates his conscience. Luigi, on the other hand, passes from opportunism to ignoble and cynical collaborationism. When Michele rebels against the inhuman command of his superior, Luigi – sure of his own safety – serves as a member of the firing squad executing his friend along with three surrendered reds.