When a group of Italian soldiers washes up on a Greek island after the Allies sink their ship, the men initially believe that the region is deserted. However, they discover that the islanders have been in hiding, and the soldiers, winning the trust of the locals, gradually become part of the community.  As the Italians, including Lt. Raffaele Montini (Claudio Bigagli), ease into an idyllic existence, they begin to forget about war and pursue romance with the lovely women of the island.

The island where the movie takes place is called Megísti in Italian, Mes in Turkish and Kastellorizo in Greek. It is the easternmost inhabited Greek island and is located just 1 mile off the coast of Turkey.