Synopsis:
8th september 1943. Italy on its knees, succumbs to an armistice. The Army disbands. Johnny, a graduate in English literature (hence the nick name he's know by) goes back to Alba, his home town, but as a deserter, he's obliged to go into hide. That he wants to fight the nazi-fascists is clear in his heart, but the point is whom should he side with.The charisma of his University Teachers, Chiodi and Cocito, fascinates him, but his inner anglo-lover heart, refuses to follow them into the new formed communist bands.He leaves aimlessly without direction and sides with the first group that crosses his path.By sheer chance this group of partisans with confused ideas and no clear ideology are lead by a communist commander. But, above all, they are hopelessly badly organized, live in subhuman conditions and succumb to cold and hunger more often than to the enemy bullets.For Johnny it is time to face up to the fact that being a partisan has nothing to do with the epic and poetic adventure he'd dreamed of in his literary reveries