This military drama depicts the many hardships endured by Italian soldiers stationed in Africa during World War II. A student persuaded into fighting for the Axis, Pvt. Serra (Paolo Briguglia) is unfamiliar with life in the service and bewildered by the unit's stark desert surroundings. Fighting the British under Lt. Fiore (Luciano Scarpa) and Sgt. Rizzo (Pierfrancesco Favino), Serra must contend with the unforgiving elements as well as confusing commands from his superiors.