Allonsanfan 1974

Fulvio's 1816 release and the rumor

During the Restoration in 1816, Fulvio Imbriani, a middle-aged aristocrat and Jacobin, is released from prison after authorities spread a rumor that he betrayed the Master of the Sublime Brothers. The rumor serves as a political trap to placate the authorities while keeping him in check. Almost immediately, the Sublime Brothers abduct him to test his loyalty.

Trial by the Sublime Brothers and the Master’s suicide

The Brothers put Fulvio on trial, hoping to expose a traitor within their circle. Their proceedings are shadowed by the revelation that their Master had committed suicide days earlier, disheartened by the defeat of revolutionary ideals. The event fractures the unity of the secret society.

Disbanding of the Brothers and Fulvio's return home

The Sublime Brothers disband, worn down by disillusion. Fulvio returns home in disguise to his family villa after decades away, and the household mourns as if he had died. He maintains his cover to avoid arrest while observing the life he left behind.

Reunion with Charlotte and plans for an expedition

Fulvio is reunited with his lover Charlotte, who has raised funds abroad to finance an expedition to liberate the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He has grown weary of their endless political struggle and begins to question the aristocratic life. They discuss how their cause might still reshape their futures.

Sister betrays them; Austrian ambush is planned

Fulvio's sister informs the authorities that the reunited Brothers will come to the villa to organize the expedition. Austrian soldiers are alerted and ready to ambush the group before they can depart. The brewing confrontation sets a grim tempo for the plan.

The ambush; Fulvio’s betrayal and Charlotte’s injury

As the ambush closes in, Fulvio withholds warning from his companions, allowing most of the Brothers to be slain. Charlotte is fatally wounded in the pursuit as they try to flee. Fulvio escapes the scene with a heavy burden of guilt.

Charlotte’s funeral; Allonsanfàn appears

The surviving Brothers track Fulvio down at Charlotte's funeral, exposing the full scale of their betrayal. Allonsanfàn, the Master's young son, emerges from the crowd and follows the pursuit, becoming a symbol of the old cause. The reunion of a shattered band intensifies the moral ambiguity of Fulvio's choices.

Expedition continues; Vanni’s tale reinforces resolve

Despite the losses, the expedition to the Two Sicilies continues. In Genoa, the tale of the Southern exile Vanni is told, illustrating the cost of rebellion and widening the resolve of the Brothers to press on for Sicily. The group negotiates the absence of guns as they prepare to depart.

Plans to buy guns; Massimiliano’s fate and risk

Fulvio resolves to use Charlotte's money to buy the guns and to escape to America with Massimiliano. He schemes to remove Lionello and her ally Francesca from the conspiracy to protect his plan. He places Massimiliano in a boarding school and arranges funds to cover years of rent in case of his death.

Lake Orta boat scene; Lionello’s death

On Lake Orta, Fulvio takes Lionello for a boat ride and claims smugglers will deliver the guns. He tries to push Lionello toward a suicidal course to cover his failure, but the boat capsizes and Lionello dies anyway. The manipulation underscores Fulvio's moral collapse.

Francesca’s alliance; boarding and Genoa departure

Fulvio seduces Francesca to ensure she won't betray him and to keep the conspiracy intact. He handles Massimiliano’s schooling and uses Charlotte’s money to support long-term housing, keeping his broader plan afloat. The group heads toward Genoa where the expedition is meant to depart.

Genoa embarkation; lack of guns becomes clear; Fulvio unconscious

In Genoa, the expedition boards despite lacking sufficient firearms. An opiate-based medicine renders Fulvio unconscious as Francesca remains loyal to the plan and the others continue aboard. The absence of armaments casts a shadow over the doomed venture.

Landfall in Sicily; Vanni’s tale and the expedition’s fragility

The expedition lands in Sicily and is confronted by Vanni's tale of vengeance against soldiers, reinforcing fears of the mission's viability. The lack of firearms proves crippling, transforming idealism into desperation. The mood darkens as the group faces an uncertain future.

Fulvio betrays again; Grottole confrontation

Fulvio betrays the group again by signaling a priest in Grottole to secure his own life. The priest incites the peasants against the invaders, framing the rebels as agents of the cholera epidemic. Vanni and the Brothers are easily recognized and lynched.