What Is Infelici e contenti About?
The premise of Infelici e contenti in 321 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the gentle hum of an Italian hospice, two strangers find themselves sharing a room that feels more like a crossroads than a place of rest. Aldo, once a celebrated water‑polo player and bank employee, now navigates life from a wheelchair, carrying the quiet ache of a world turned upside down. Across from him sits Vittorio, a man whose world is defined not by sight but by an uncanny knack for turning everyday moments into subtle games. Their meeting is simple, but the contrast between Aldo’s restrained dignity and Vittorio’s restless imagination hints at a partnership that could reshape both of their routines.
The film settles into a tone that balances bittersweet reflection with a wry, almost slap‑stick energy. The hospice’s orderly corridors give way to open‑air possibilities as the two men entertain the idea of a leisurely drive along the Ligurian coast to the resort town of Sanremo. It is a journey that promises scenery, sunshine, and a brief escape from the confines of their daily lives, while also allowing their distinct personalities to play off each other—Aldo’s measured caution meeting Vittorio’s improvisational daring.
As they set the wheels in motion, the road ahead becomes a canvas for quiet humor and understated tension. The landscape blurs into a series of fleeting moments—coastal vistas, small towns, and the occasional detour that tests their resolve. The audience is invited to linger on the subtle choreography of two men whose disabilities shape, but do not dictate, their choices, and to wonder how far they will let curiosity and companionship carry them.
Ultimately, the film is a character study wrapped in a road‑trip frame, exploring how friendship can become a refuge and a catalyst when life insists on reminding you of loss. Its mood is simultaneously warm and probing, inviting viewers to contemplate resilience, the desire for normalcy, and the unpredictable chemistry that emerges when two very different lives intersect on the open road.
What Happens in Infelici e contenti?
The complete story of Infelici e contenti, from the first scene to the last, in 541 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Aldo, a former bank employee and a celebrated water polo player, carries the quiet ache of a life overturned by a terrible car accident that leaves him in a wheelchair for good. When his wife Alessandra heads off for the August holidays, she sends their dog Peppino to the kennels and quietly books a room in a nursing home run by nuns for him, a place that promises care but also casts a spotlight on the vulnerability that illness imposes. In this unfamiliar setting, he crosses paths with Vittorio, a blind man who traffics counterfeit goods, a figure who is both a guide and a risk in Aldo’s new reality. Vittorio shares a room with a Spanish nurse, Suor Teresa, a woman he often harasses, and together they hatch plans for a journey to Sanremo to push counterfeit Rolex watches into circulation.
The voyage is a tangled bouquet of small adventures and sharper tensions. On the road, the two men encounter two young girls from the nursing home, Ornella and Sara, who reveal themselves to be thieves in disguise beneath innocent exteriors. A sideways romance blooms when Vittorio flirts with Valeria, Aldo’s sister, during a family visit, adding a layer of complexity to loyalties and trust. A perilous escape from men to whom Vittorio owes money threads through the days, reminding them that every move is shadowed by danger and debt.
A pivotal encounter unfolds one evening at a casino, where Aldo and Vittorio cross paths with Petrelli, an engineer who becomes the instrument of fate: he turns out to be the man who struck Aldo with his car three years earlier. Petrelli offers a lifeline in the form of casino chips totaling a million, and as Aldo accumulates winnings, a promise forms—one that Petrelli allegedly made about a future favor: a villa where Aldo might finally escape the cramped walls of his wheelchair-bound life.
When the two men finally reach Petrelli’s villa, the host’s cool reception raises alarms in Vittorio, who senses that something is amiss. Yet he agrees to stay the night, hoping for a hidden mercy. The night reveals a deeper betrayal: Alessandra is there too, and she has decided to leave Aldo and pursue a relationship with Petrelli, tired of the compromises demanded by disability. Rather than tell Aldo the truth, Vittorio makes a decisive, dangerous move—he slips onto Petrelli’s yacht and strikes him with his stick, severing the delicate thread between old loyalties and new temptations.
Back home, Alessandra returns to fetch Aldo, and the television news later confirms what Vittorio’s bold assault has wrought: Petrelli is now confined to a wheelchair as a consequence of the attack. The revelation reshapes the orbit of every character: Alessandra resumes life with her husband, and Vittorio disappears into the shadows, content that his friend will have his wife by his side once more. In this winding tale of friendship, desire, vengeance, and the stubborn resilience of those who navigate life from a wheelchair, the film threads a cautious, morally ambiguous line between care and manipulation, between companionship and betrayal, leaving a lingering sense of how far one man will go to reclaim a sense of normalcy in a world that keeps reminding him of what he has lost.
Infelici e contenti Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Car crash and Aldo becomes wheelchair-bound” to “Vittorio disappears, leaving the outcome uncertain”. 12 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Car crash and Aldo becomes wheelchair-bound
Aldo is injured in a car crash and becomes a wheelchair user, ending his previous life as a bank employee and water polo champion. The accident shocks his family and marks a dramatic, ongoing adjustment to disability. This event is the catalyst for the rest of the story.
When:Three years ago Where:City road
- 2
Alessandra leaves for vacation
When Alessandra leaves for August holidays, she sends their dog Peppino to kennels and leaves Aldo behind in the house. The separation foreshadows strain in their marriage and sets Aldo up for new companionships. The setup triggers his move into the nursing home later.
When:During August holidays Where:Aldo's home
- 3
Aldo enters a nun-run nursing home
Aldo is admitted to a nursing home run by nuns while Alessandra is away. There he shares a room with Vittorio, a blind man involved in counterfeit goods, and with Sister Teresa, the Spanish nurse. The trio binds together amid unfolding adventures that define the journey ahead.
When:During Alessandra's August holiday Where:Nursing home
- 4
Vittorio and Teresa form a curious setup
Vittorio and Sister Teresa become regular roommates at the nursing home, and Vittorio’s counterfeit trade continues behind the scenes. The uneasy dynamic hints at the moral ambiguity that will influence the later events. The setting expands with new, morally grey relationships.
When:During the stay in the nursing home Where:Nursing home
- 5
Sanremo trip and counterfeit plans
On a trip to Sanremo, Aldo, Vittorio, and Sister Teresa pursue the sale of counterfeit watches. They’re joined by two young thieves, Ornella and Sara, who complicate the group’s plans. The journey veers into a sequence of misadventures.
When:During the Sanremo trip Where:Sanremo
- 6
Vittorio flirts with Valeria
During a visit to Aldo’s sister, Vittorio has a fling with Valeria, adding romantic tension to the already tangled loyalties. The incident strains the interactions between the leads and those around them. It underscores how desire can disrupt fragile arrangements.
When:During the visit to Valeria's house Where:Aldo's sister's house
- 7
Narrow escape from debtors
Vittorio owes money to dangerous men, and the group narrowly escapes their pursuers. The chase heightens the sense of danger around their counterfeit enterprise. This moment reinforces the fragile trust among the trio.
When:During the trip Where:On the road during the trip
- 8
Casino meeting with Petrelli
In a casino, they meet Petrelli, the engineer who hit Aldo with his car three years earlier. Petrelli lends Aldo a million in casino chips, promising a future favor. The encounter sets the stage for the later invitation to stay at Petrelli’s villa.
When:During the casino visit Where:Casino
- 9
Chips returned to cash in a favor
After accumulating winnings, Aldo returns the casino chips to Petrelli to cash in on the promised favor of staying at the villa. The plan signals a shift toward domestic stability and a new power dynamic. This moment tightens the bond and bets between the characters.
When:Shortly after the casino Where:Petrelli's villa
- 10
Alessandra's plan revealed
That night, Alessandra’s presence at Petrelli’s villa is revealed, and she has decided to leave Aldo to start a relationship with Petrelli. Vittorio senses trouble but withholds the truth for now. The revelation accelerates the drama and reshapes everyone’s loyalties.
When:Night Where:Petrelli's villa
Show the other 3 events of Infelici e contenti Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Vittorio attacks Petrelli on the yacht
Vittorio sneaks onto Petrelli’s yacht and attacks him with his stick, following the discovery of Alessandra’s intentions. The assault is brutal and decisive, pushing the characters toward a new balance. Petrelli’s life is altered, adding another layer of consequence to the plot.
When:Night Where:Petrelli's yacht
- 12
Homecoming and Petrelli’s fate on TV
Back home, Alessandra returns to pick up Aldo, and the TV news reveals Petrelli has become wheelchair-bound as a result of Vittorio’s attack. The news confirms the shock of the night and redefines the power dynamics among the friends. Vittorio’s actions seem to guarantee Alessandra’s stay with Aldo.
When:Shortly after the yacht incident Where:Aldo's home
- 13
Vittorio disappears, leaving the outcome uncertain
Vittorio disappears after achieving his goal of keeping Aldo’s wife by his side, effectively dissolving from the story. Aldo remains with Alessandra, whose loyalty has shifted due to the events. The film ends on a note of uneasy equilibrium as the future hangs in the balance.
When:End of events
Who Are the Main Characters in Infelici e contenti?
12 characters, among them Aldo (Renato Pozzetto), Alessandra (Marina Suma) and Vittorio (Ezio Greggio): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 11 of them link to the actor’s page.
- A(
Aldo (Renato Pozzetto)
Played by Renato Pozzetto
Former bank employee and water polo champion who becomes a wheelchair user after a car accident. The nursing home setting frames his dependence, while his bond with Vittorio and interaction with Alessandra propel the plot toward risk and reclamation of dignity.
- ♿ Disability
- 🔄 Dependence
- 🧭 Autonomy
- A(
Alessandra (Marina Suma)
Played by Marina Suma
Aldo's wife who leaves for August holidays, sending their dog to kennels. Her decision to pursue a relationship with Petrelli drives the drama and pushes Aldo toward new alliances and outcomes.
- 💔 Infidelity
- 🧭 Choices
- 😕 Tension
- V(
Vittorio (Ezio Greggio)
Played by Ezio Greggio
A blind man who traffics counterfeit goods and shares a room with Aldo. He forms a complicated friendship with Aldo, and his actions propel key confrontations, including the attack on Petrelli.
- 🤝 Alliance
- 🪙 Crime
- 🌀 Complication
- O(
Ornella (Francesca D'Aloja)
Played by Francesca D'Aloja
One of the two young residents of the nursing home who turn out to be thieves. Their deception adds danger and unpredictability to the unfolding events.
- 🕵️ Deception
- 🧭 Youthful mischief
- S(
Sara (Yvonne Sciò)
Played by Yvonne Sciò
The other young thief from the nursing home who partners with Ornella. Her involvement heightens the sense of risk and theft-laden comedy within the plot.
- 🕵️ Deception
- 🔗 Partner in crime
- V(
Valeria (Renata Attivissimo)
Played by Renata Attivissimo
Aldo's sister who is involved in a visit that leads to a romantic moment with Vittorio. Her presence links the family dynamic to the crime and personal drama surrounding the main characters.
- ❤️ Family ties
- 💬 Gossip
- 💑 Romance
- P
Petrilli
Played by Roberto Bisacco
An engineer who lends Aldo a million in casino chips and appears in the broader web of revenge and favors. The villa meeting and subsequent events reveal the precarious nature of favors and fortunes.
- 🧩 Plot device
- 💰 Involved in schemes
- P
Petrelli
A businessman who hits Aldo with the car years earlier and later hosts Aldo and Vittorio at his villa. After Vittorio's attack, Petrelli becomes another casualty of the plot and is forced into a wheelchair.
- 🏠 Hostile generosity
- 🛥️ High society
- ST
Suora Teresa (Lucrezia Molerio)
Played by Lucrezia Molerio
A Spanish nurse living in the nursing home who is part of the hospital-like environment surrounding Aldo and Vittorio.
- 🧑⚕️ Caregiver
- 🕊️ Religious setting
- S(
Suora (Fabiana Del Carmen Medici)
Played by Fabiana Del Carmen Medici
A nun involved in running the nursing home, representing the institutional backdrop against which the personal drama unfolds.
- 🕊️ Religious setting
- 🏥 Care facility
- IP
Il poliziotto (Sergio Gibello)
Played by Sergio Gibello
The policeman who dictates the report for the denominated complaint, representing the law enforcement aspect of the aftermath.
- 👮 Law & order
- 📝 Official record
- DD
Direttore dell'albergo Paraggi (Dino Emanuelli)
Played by Dino Emanuelli
The hotel director who is part of the social scene surrounding the main characters, providing backdrop to the villa and casino settings.
- 🏨 Hospitality
- 🗺️ Locale
Where and When Is Infelici e contenti Set?
Infelici e contenti is set in nursing home run by nuns, Sanremo, Petrelli's villa, casino, yacht, kennels. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The events take place in a contemporary setting, with a backstory of a car accident three years earlier that left Aldo wheelchair-bound. The present-day happenings unfold around an August holiday, including trips to Sanremo and interactions at a villa, casino, and yacht.
Where
nursing home run by nuns, Sanremo, Petrelli's villa, casino, yacht, kennels
The story unfolds across a nursing home run by nuns and the seaside locale of Sanremo, with key actions moving between a luxury villa owned by Petrelli and a casino. A yacht becomes a pivotal setting for a confrontation, and the dog Peppino is kept in kennels during the course of the film. These locations weave together a mix of everyday life, leisure, and criminal spectacle that drives the plot.
- 🏥 Nursing home
- 🏝️ Seaside city
- 🏡 Villa
- 🎰 Casino
- 🚤 Yacht
- 🐕 Kennels
What Are the Themes of Infelici e contenti?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Disability & Resilience, Deception & Crime and Friendship & Loyalty.
-
01
Disability & Resilience
Aldo's life as a wheelchair user shapes much of the story, influencing his relationships and sense of autonomy. The film examines how mobility limitations affect trust, dignity, and daily decision making. Amid the chaos of schemes and schemes, Aldo seeks to maintain agency and relevance in his world.
-
02
Deception & Crime
Counterfeit goods, theft by residents of the nursing home, and a web of schemes propel the plot. The actions of Petrelli and Vittorio create a chain of consequences that blur lines between generosity and manipulation. The narrative uses crime to probe desperation, opportunism, and moral ambiguity.
-
03
Friendship & Loyalty
Aldo and Vittorio form an uneasy alliance born of need and shared history. Their bond tests loyalty as circumstances push them toward risky moves and mutual protection. The ending underscores loyalty's costs and limits within a volatile world.
-
04
Love, Jealousy & Betrayal
Alessandra's departure for August holidays and her relationship with Petrelli trigger a love triangle that drives much of the drama. Jealousy and desire reshuffle loyalties, fueling decisions that ripple through all the characters. The personal motives behind affection and betrayal reveal a broader pattern of manipulation.
What Kind of Film Is Infelici e contenti?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A bittersweet Italian road trip comedy that balances witty banter with quiet melancholy, exploring the resilient bond between two disabled men navigating betrayal and the desire for normalcy.
- witty
- melancholic
- resilient
- thoughtful
- tense
- hopeful
- disability
- friendship
- betrayal
- revenge
Content notes: infidelity, physical disability.
Quiz
How well do you remember Infelici e contenti? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Infelici e contenti
. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
