A family of 4 makes a long drive to Aunt Martha's house to visit her for the first time in years. Only she isn't there. Just the caretaker and his message that she will appear the next day...if they survive the night.
The funny misadventures of a simpleton just out of jail, looking for a job until the very surreal ending.
本片中的一家罗马穷人纯粹是无恶不作的刁民，欺诈、通奸、谋杀、淫乱，什么都干。大家长失去了左眼，从**那里获得一百万里拉的补偿，他的亲戚想给他下毒，而他自己则花天酒地，甚至把妓女带回家。他酗酒、吹牛，还拿着手枪威胁亲戚。那些亲戚们如同是歌剧里的合唱队，步调一致对付他。他那十多个孩子似乎都被困在这个贫民窟里，前途无望。
如果说意大利新现实主义电影将下层社会圣洁化，那么，本片则撕开了那层圣洁的外衣。影片非常搞笑，同时又令人沮丧，似乎贫穷就是一种罪恶。斯高拉凭本片获得戛纳影展最佳导演奖。
