Marco Bellocchio directs this Italian drama based on the true story of Benito Mussolini's secret first wife and son, who were hidden away by the fascist Italian leader and both went on to die in insane asylums. Giovanna Mezzogiorno stars as Ida, a young beautician who falls in love with the charismatic rising political leader and newspaper publisher Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi). After marrying him and bearing him a son (also called Benito), she is later discarded like a minor pawn in Il Duce's megalomaniacal path of triumph. After Mussolini finds a new wife, Rachele Guidi (Michela Cescon), he has Ida locked up and all records of both the marriage and his son erased.