During the 20 months before Italy's liberation from Fascism, a group of university students trade empty rhetoric for action by joining the Partisans into the mountains of Nazi-occupied northern Italy. There, group leader Gigi falls in love with his best friend's girl. As the Resistance struggle continues, some of the "little teachers" are killed, and the brutal reality of war leaves its mark on their youthful idealism.

• Presidenza del Consiglio del Ministri-Dipartimento dello Spettacolo
• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
• Stefano Accorsi
• Stefania Montorsi
• Giorgio Pasotti
• Diego Gianesini
• Filippo Sandon
• Manuel Donato
• Marco Piras
• Marco Paolini