A desperate woman searches for her missing husband who never returned from the Russian front during World War II.

Giovanna and Antonio have been married for only 12 days when World War II breaks out. Antonio is drafted into the army, but he tries to dodge the draft by pretending to be insane; military officials see through his scheme, however, and send him to the Russian front. The Italian Army is quickly forced into retreat, and Antonio is rescued by Mascia, a young Russian woman. Antonio stays with Mascia for the duration of the war, and they marry. Despite the fact that Antonio has been declared missing in action, Giovanna travels to Russia at the end of the war and finds him there with Mascia and their son. Heartbroken, Giovanna resigns herself to Antonio's new marriage and returns to Italy, where she later marries. After many years have passed, Antonio is still obsessed with the memory of Giovanna's visit, and he goes to Italy to see her again. They meet and talk of their lives, but, realizing that they cannot recapture the past, they return to their spouses.