Synopsis:

Umbria, end of 14th Century. Cascia is a Ghibelline enclave in Guelph territory. The town’s independence and prosperity are entrusted to a group of families and their descent. The only possible law
in this community is the code of honour to which everybody is subject without distinction. The only accepted language is violence. Rita, a beautiful, brave young woman, meets Paolo Mancini, a knight, and falls in love with him. Their marriage, celebrated in spite of the prejudices of their respective families, soon becomes troubled. Rita discovers her husband’s true identity: Paolo is a ruthless murderer. Among alternate crises and moments of happiness, day after day Rita’s strong faith and persistent love lead Paolo to leave struggles and ambushes until he is eventually converted, and their marriage is brightened by the birth of two beautiful twins. Rita now leads a happy life – but one day her world is completely torn apart: Paolo, accused of being a traitor, is killed by his Ghibelline fellows. A terrible ordeal for Rita, who rushes
at his dead body with her sons. Rita is the first to offer forgiveness to her husband’s murderers. But her sons are old enough to understand what has happened and too young to avoid being overwhelmed by the desire for revenge. Rita wants at all costs to tear them away from the escalation of violence and bring peace in their hearts. Desperate, she prays God for help: may He takes her children’s life rather than allow them to stain their hands with murder. Her prayer is answered, and the two boys die. Rita has obtained eternal salvation for her sons, but at what price? Her existence has been destroyed.
Out of all this despair, she feels the need for a refuge in a convent. However, although the Mother Superior knows and loves her, she cannot meet her request: Rita cannot take the vows only because
she is annihilated by sorrow, and without a true vocation. Rita loses all reference points. She neglects herself until she almost dies, until she hears God’s voice again: her mission is to bring peace in
Cascia. Before retiring from the world, Rita must reconcile her husband’s family with that of his murderers.
And Rita succeeds in this apparently impossible endeavour, showing that forgiveness can really defeat hate. She can now enter the convent. Finally,
Rita is free to devote herself to a contemplative life, and her deep union with Christ would later be testified by the grace of stigmata.