Amore e morte

When Ruggiero De Agro', a patriarch and the wealthy owner of a bustling farm in Sicily at the turn of the century, seems concerned about the health of his beloved daughter Chiara, the august farmhand Sylvestro tells his fellow workers, Mauro, Ntoni, Filippo, Simuni and Nuzzo, the story of a curse that was placed upon the De Agro' family long ago. When an evil young rake of the otherwise Christian clan married a young girl only to stab her to death a few months later, her mother, who was practiced in the art of Saracen magic, placed upon the family a curse whereby all the De Agro' women have died terrible deaths, and the men have never been permitted to enjoy their wives and daughters. Ruggiero believes Chiara's illness to be part of this cruel destiny. Meanwhile, in town, Mauro's wife Lucia tells a friend that she has not seen her husband in two months and that she is unable to feed their two children. The philandering husband Mauro and Chiara sneak a kiss in the chicken coup but are interrupted by Barbara, a faithful servant to Ruggiero and a mother figure for Chiara, who warns Mauro to stay away from the master's innocent daughter. Mauro then threatens to reveal to Chiara that Ruggiero and Barbara are living in sin. Years earlier, Ruggiero saved Barbara from an abusive husband who continues to torment them by refusing to annul their marriage so that Ruggiero and Barbara can wed. Chiara and Mauro rendezvous in the stable, and Chiara admits to having seen Mauro ride through the storm on her father's white horse. The horse, Ruggiero's favorite, has fallen sick with pneumonia, and Mauro, who used the horse to visit his mistress, the innkeeper's daughter Saridda, fears that Ruggiero will discover that he kept the horse out all night. Mauro lies and tells Chiara that he took the horse in order to see a lawyer about annulling his marriage, for which he asks Chiara to procure one hundred lire to pay at the Court of Catania. The next day, Ruggiero takes Mauro to see Lucia and scolds him for his neglect, then gives him money to buy his children food and to pay the landlord. Upon Ruggiero's departure, Mauro threatens Lucia and then goes to a pub where he spends the money on drink and a dress for the Saridda. A gay celebration ensues, and Gennarino, a Neapolitan salesman who sells Saridda the dress, sings the customers a few songs, including a Tarantella. The next day, a feast is being lavishly organized for Chiara's sixteenth birthday. The farmhands congratulate Chiara, sing, drink wine and toast the adored girl's health, and Ruggiero plans a special surprise: a performance by the best musicians and singers in the land. During the party, a messenger arrives with a letter for Ruggiero, and Mauro asks Chiara to find out its contents. Barbara overhears their intimate words and confronts the girl. Upon discovering that Chiara has lost her virginity, Barbara decides that she herself must leave Ruggiero's house as she has failed to protect her master's prize possession. She tells Ruggiero, however, that she must go because Chiara has discovered they have been conducting an illicit union. Ruggiero finally reads the letter, which informs him that Lucia has been arrested for stealing to feed her children. He finds Mauro and whips him, as Chiara begs him to stop. After sending Mauro away, Ruggiero perceives that Chiara is in love, and she finally admits that she is Mauro's wife "before God." Incensed, Ruggiero falls back stricken, and Chiara dies of grief as she prays before the Virgin. Ruggiero then chases Mauro into the fields, and as he is about to catch up to him, the young man is struck dead by lightning. Ruggiero, having now gone crazy, returns to his daughter's bed and tells Barbara not to wake the "sleeping" girl.