1901年1月27日,著名作曲家歌剧大师威尔弟去世,这也正是意大利北部两户家庭产子的同一天。阿弗雷德(罗伯特·德尼罗 Robert De Niro饰),富有的农场主的孙子;奥尔茂(杰拉尔·德帕迪约 Gérard Depardieu饰),贫穷的农户的孙子。两人从小就结下了友谊,然而因为地位阶级与出身经历的不同,注定了两人天壤之别的迥然人生。
-And where shall we go?
-On a sail ship.
-A sail ship?
-Yes.
Like this one?
Put that silkworm down!
-Put it down!
-Why should l?
Because you know they're all in my care.
But l can touch all these silkworms as much as l please.
You're stupid.
No.
You know, l'm padrone.
But the nests are mine.
Nobody's to interfere.
Why not?
Because l feed them, understand?
Set them down.
Only when l feel like it.
Even if you feed them, the silkworms are still all mine.