Free Women

Christmas 1942. Mario Tobino, a psychiatrist back from the war, starts working in the Magliano Mental Hospital for women. The same night, young Margherita makes a spectacle on the Duomo's parvis, and her husband Filippo decides to have her sectioned. Unexpectedly Mario encounters Paola, the woman he has always loved, as she attempts fixing a tire by the roadside.

Seeing Paola revives Mario. Back at the hospital, Mario witnesses a violent reaction by Margherita. Shortly after, Margherita attempts suicide. Mario saves her life, but doesn't know how to help her. Mario sees Paola again and they give into passion in a long awaited kiss. Margherita realizes Beppe, the janitor, is abusing Lilli, and fears she'll be next.

Mario stops nurse Beppe from abusing Margherita and has him sacked from the hospital. Mario's opinion that Margherita could be discharged is fruitless when the woman assaults her husband in front of the judge. Tired, she asks Mario to help her escape. He promises he'll help her the day after.

Mario secretly takes Margherita to the sea, wanting her to taste freedom again after so much suffering. The girl falls in love with him, and they give in to passion. But Mario is still in love with Paola, and when he finally finds her again, he makes love to her.

While the interned women suffer from hunger and the Nazi-fascist threat looms over the institute, Paola discovers that Mario is in love with Margherita, who is subjected to electroshock by Parisi and becomes more determined to flee. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the ball, during which Marta and her baby will be secretly smuggled out.

During the masquerade ball, Marta and her baby escape. But Margherita's flight fails: she is captured by Beppe and brought back to the institute, where Parisi subjects her to lobotomy before Mario can save her.