A love story that brings together family tradition and uncertain expectations with regard to the future. It is Giuseppe Padovani's birthday party, but for this Italian immigrant of 93 years, there is no reason to celebrate. His health is frail, his family disintegrating, and the pasta plant that he founded over sixty years ago is in the hands of a grandson, a gourmet who understands much about food, but very little about management.

     During the party, Giuseppe is introduced to Sofia D'Angelo, a young woman who, having spent some years in Italy, is back in Brazil to complete a study on the Padovani family. Giuseppe is impressed with the resemblance between Sofia and his wife, Caterina, who died in an air crash many years before. On that fateful day, he lost part of his life.

     A financial crisis, health problems, and family conflict cannot shake Giuseppe out of a state of silent, frustrated contemplation. Only Sofia can help him to regain a will to live.