In an Italian monastery, a celebrated sculptor lays on his death bed. For decades, Mimo has lived among the monks to watch over his masterpiece, an arresting statue that haunts all who see it.

During his final hours, he reveals his life story: his impoverished childhood, his apprenticeship with a brutal alcoholic and most importantly, his meeting with Viola, the daughter of a powerful aristocratic family.

Mimo and Viola are instantly drawn to one another. Together, they traverse the unrest of the twentieth century, from the violence of war to the rise of fascism. While Mimo becomes a celebrated artist, Viola chases her own dreams of becoming an emancipated woman.

Over the decades, they will lose and find each other, but never will they give up on the love they share.